tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74019240471039622802024-03-13T17:44:53.337-07:00The SeedThis is an organic gardening and Earth friendly landscaping blog following the adventures of Russ Henry, the organic gardener from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA!
Great pictures, garden advice, and green living resources!Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-84915584501528039882012-01-04T21:28:00.000-08:002012-01-04T21:39:45.167-08:00Compost Is Heating Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7edDC2n5Rw/TwUtgEyNHbI/AAAAAAAABOY/bGvl4K1iPQk/s1600/Gardening_At_School_Northdale_Middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7edDC2n5Rw/TwUtgEyNHbI/AAAAAAAABOY/bGvl4K1iPQk/s200/Gardening_At_School_Northdale_Middle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Organic gardening and farming are based on the notion that when we build our soil’s natural fertility through composting we strengthen our environment and grow the land’s capacity to provide us with health. <span id="goog_1187773244"></span><span id="goog_1187773245"></span><br />
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It’s a pretty good system when you think of it. We throw out scraps, and the scraps become our food. So simple, so elegant, so effective.<br />
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At Giving Tree Gardens, we’re such big fans of compost because we’ve seen it’s powerful results. Our gardens and lawns have all quickly filled in and grown with health and beauty using nothing but good healthy compost for fertility.<br />
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</tbody></table> Last spring Giving Tree Gardens began working with farm partners to build Grow! Twin Cities Urban Farm. At this 12 acre city farm growers with various talents ranging from tomato and potato farming to bee keeping and mushrooming have come together to grow food for urban eaters. This farm space has been the perfect place for us to launch our composting operations. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQmEMPApt_s/TwUtq7668kI/AAAAAAAABPA/XzSLy3UUzwI/s1600/Russ_Henry_and_Peter_Kern_Composting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQmEMPApt_s/TwUtq7668kI/AAAAAAAABPA/XzSLy3UUzwI/s320/Russ_Henry_and_Peter_Kern_Composting.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>With consultation from local composting experts Peter Kern, owner of <a href="http://www.kernlandscaping.com/">Kern Landscape Resources</a>, and <a href="http://www.extension.umn.edu/environment/components/00035b.html">Professor Tom Halbach</a>, from the University of Minnesota, we designed an 85 feet long compost pile. Friends of the farm and Giving Tree Gardens employees set to work transforming our greenhouse and hauling in the compost pile’s base layers of wood chips and landscaping waste.<br />
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We now bring in 2 tons of Minneapolis’ finest coffee shop, vegetarian eatery, and beer brewery waste per week to compost inside our largest greenhouse. Composting takes place inside the greenhouse for two reasons. First, composting in the greenhouse means that our pile doesn’t stop cooking all year long. Second, and more importantly, the fact that we’re heating our greenhouse without any petroleum products means a huge environmental win for everyone involved. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If you’ve purchased food, beer, or coffee from <a href="http://www.peacecoffee.com/">Peace Coffee</a>, <a href="http://www.harrietbrewing.com/">Harriet Brewery</a>, <a href="http://www.caffettocafe.com/">Caffetto Coffee Shop</a>, <a href="http://www.taonaturalfoods.com/">Tao Foods</a>, or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/2nd-Moon-Coffee-Cafe/378112205592">Second Moon Coffee Shop</a>, then you are contributing to healthy soils, and local food production at our Grow! Twin Cities Farm. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If you’d like to support more of our farming and composting efforts, there are great ways to get involved. You can sign up to <a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/p/contact-us.html">volunteer</a>, <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=LX2Y43AFDEAQJ">donate to the farm</a>, or <a href="http://givingtreegardens.blogspot.com/p/sign-up-to-receive-seed.html">sign up to follow</a> our newsletter. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many thanks to all the hard working compost helpers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-79949075728220853562011-06-23T16:50:00.000-07:002012-01-04T21:39:07.206-08:00Gardening At School, Growing Healthy Kids<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #38761d; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Whenever a young person learns to garden, the future grows a little more green and healthy</span><span style="color: #38761d;">.</span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukZKOT-4MjUh7oixvLXuspwNEoyLvPDPizTaq9U47uFoxXLooKSwwav_dFOGTD6cCxUX7JiitItbGzVV-cXuZhL0m5B0LmKP29NbbfZ4JRQ1aiw44Ks6uAkwS2kgyUo0wP5NB_XKWECa2/s1600/17_IMG_0276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukZKOT-4MjUh7oixvLXuspwNEoyLvPDPizTaq9U47uFoxXLooKSwwav_dFOGTD6cCxUX7JiitItbGzVV-cXuZhL0m5B0LmKP29NbbfZ4JRQ1aiw44Ks6uAkwS2kgyUo0wP5NB_XKWECa2/s320/17_IMG_0276.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #6aa84f;">When and entire school learns to garden together, sustainability sprouts in the imaginations of tomorrows community. This spring, Giving Tree Gardens worked with the Anoka-Hennepin School District to teach some of the basics of Earth- friendly food gardening to students at two schools in the district. We had so much fun working with students and staff that we’ve just got to share the good times with the rest of the world. </span></div><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine</span> what our communities would look like today, if all of us as kids had the opportunity to learn to grow our own food at school. Instead of learning to grow food, the daily school lunch is the most engaging and oft repeated lesson that our kids get about food. What is that lesson? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mfN9muDTtUYQK-wvZdqPxDVyeOBZHUbOpcez0vm_90pT2zI8sg_Qsd9YzEgzxEKAmDftXBA2rUrn7ekmXnOQ5aIP7DSVj4VafBMEx3jeh3kBPt0hjgkEHeddc6ExOf7ijxOUfmEmJVA/s1600/Russ_Henry_Gardens_With_Kids_At_School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mfN9muDTtUYQK-wvZdqPxDVyeOBZHUbOpcez0vm_90pT2zI8sg_Qsd9YzEgzxEKAmDftXBA2rUrn7ekmXnOQ5aIP7DSVj4VafBMEx3jeh3kBPt0hjgkEHeddc6ExOf7ijxOUfmEmJVA/s320/Russ_Henry_Gardens_With_Kids_At_School.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was an honor for us at Giving Tree to be invited to garden with the students at <b>Mississippi Elementary</b> and <b>Northdale Middle School in Coon Rapids</b>. Composting, edible weeds, the importance of avoiding chemicals, soil preparation, seed planting, native plants, habitat creation, and companion planting were the subjects of 3 all day gardening classes. School staff and teachers brought the students out in shifts. Over 400 students were able to get their hands dirty digging in to learn how to grow healthy food and habitat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kids naturally know how to bring out the fun in gardening. </span>Between cow poo, worms, and rotting food all in the compost, there was quite a lot to laugh about. The fun didn’t just stop with talk of compostables, we all got to dig in to the gross, delightful compost and learn how to use our garbage to make garden gold! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #6aa84f; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbtooaiOEfztQN58KktftyN8i96g9seYAA_bP0RIZW2F-HUqRWxG8bmxU_5b-KJQ11JimUToO1DS5MSfSrYX5m0I9dHffEvC76Dq9JYKXDjecp1i5ACsLxEMyjd1oaEN-5_FiIaPrrwo/s1600/Russ_Henry_Gardens_with_Students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbtooaiOEfztQN58KktftyN8i96g9seYAA_bP0RIZW2F-HUqRWxG8bmxU_5b-KJQ11JimUToO1DS5MSfSrYX5m0I9dHffEvC76Dq9JYKXDjecp1i5ACsLxEMyjd1oaEN-5_FiIaPrrwo/s320/Russ_Henry_Gardens_with_Students.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;">At Mississippi Elementary we built on a theme that we had started last year when we extended the garden installation within the schools Nature Center to include 6 crescent moon shaped garden beds. Every grade came out to plant, and each got their own garden bed to prepare and plant with different companion planting arrangements. Within each bed we also planted one native butterfly attracting plant so that we made sure to grow habitat for our winged friends along the way. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #6aa84f; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnue7_sSmObEysHoKHWUjUvJbC7H_pLLG7h-DxHUFqW8fLH43XWhClO282UyZCjeZNtb16Bxn-D-YMAplCJYMpCn5etC_y1oQBJxAywI_eTM6DQmpLdbLcptVpEkvERwBr0mlOeEaC0-8/s1600/Teachers_Garden_with_Students.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnue7_sSmObEysHoKHWUjUvJbC7H_pLLG7h-DxHUFqW8fLH43XWhClO282UyZCjeZNtb16Bxn-D-YMAplCJYMpCn5etC_y1oQBJxAywI_eTM6DQmpLdbLcptVpEkvERwBr0mlOeEaC0-8/s320/Teachers_Garden_with_Students.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;">At Northdale Middle school we worked with 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> grade students in the schools AVID program to plant a highly accessible veggie garden and two fruit trees right out the back door. Plants were all arranged in companionship groupings, and both the apple and pear tree that were planted were given their best friend plants of dill and mint to grow by. Some of the students were very impressive with their strong knowledge about organic vegetable gardening! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tbzp3SBgfxuyZuJwlNzlQelowgsogowyW1JdEriJmIEZZZNZ6x4pukCW-WaeB3YiYnwjmdPN2hfjzW-Lh8xWrXBqeldnNYpPqMUWF__dFvSVKKhFUCDkhirKOAdL2T94RMQCgOLOhN4/s1600/Gardening_At_School_SHIP_Grant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Tbzp3SBgfxuyZuJwlNzlQelowgsogowyW1JdEriJmIEZZZNZ6x4pukCW-WaeB3YiYnwjmdPN2hfjzW-Lh8xWrXBqeldnNYpPqMUWF__dFvSVKKhFUCDkhirKOAdL2T94RMQCgOLOhN4/s320/Gardening_At_School_SHIP_Grant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYDjhOznoN4XDd6YcVBGJHyW4-heXAMjHykgU_S1BvuT4UAoFKh1khl308BG5pI1FwdVLoB8x0nVlvDKW23HRpTAbYMhTJjTXVb19Ju_L2ElUPdFjD90NS3iast4wdb1u_4VXVZyL1WA/s1600/Gardening_With_Kids_At_School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #6aa84f; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYDjhOznoN4XDd6YcVBGJHyW4-heXAMjHykgU_S1BvuT4UAoFKh1khl308BG5pI1FwdVLoB8x0nVlvDKW23HRpTAbYMhTJjTXVb19Ju_L2ElUPdFjD90NS3iast4wdb1u_4VXVZyL1WA/s1600/Gardening_With_Kids_At_School.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #6aa84f; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Both of these school projects were funded by SHIP grants (State Health Improvement Program) from the State of Minnesota Health Department. These grants are designed to </span><span class="small"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">“help Minnesotans live longer, healthier lives.” <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="small"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gardening for medicinal and edible plants as well as sustainable habitat development are among the most effective long term strategies we have available for increasing health in our communities. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="small"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imagine</span> how healthy our children would be if all of our schools had organic student led gardens to grow even half of the food the kids eat for lunch. Thanks to the SHIP grants, and the imaginative staff in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools and school district, we have planted the seeds of healthy change in a couple of local schools.</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-18875466496860167872011-04-20T06:30:00.000-07:002011-06-03T02:31:43.837-07:00Grow! Twin Cities, New Urban Farm<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfcBEffLKvgirW1srM1rspbejlkfeSeRNLlryYnShEiRfB5-sjeIZg0AdQkRood1k96CMzAD0gS4BJ3c_dgMaqtala5pnNFgfgOoD1zqqJknGoocIIRV-s5DQD6l-U_P3Godapgdn6zM/s1600/Tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfcBEffLKvgirW1srM1rspbejlkfeSeRNLlryYnShEiRfB5-sjeIZg0AdQkRood1k96CMzAD0gS4BJ3c_dgMaqtala5pnNFgfgOoD1zqqJknGoocIIRV-s5DQD6l-U_P3Godapgdn6zM/s200/Tomatoes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Prayers can come true if you live them. A Lakota Sioux elder once told a group of folks I was sitting with that if you want to see your prayers come true you have to live them. What he said struck a chord with me. If I pray for a healthy environment then I need to work for health in the environment. By this way of living I am empowered to work for a miracle. I like that because life on this planet seems like it needs a miracle right now. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From a grower's point of view, we can start living our prayers for healthy food, clean water, and a clean environment when we pick up a shovel and begin digging in to the work of transforming our food system, one steaming scoop of compost at a time. We've got a hard row to hoe in order to see our prayers for health and sustainability come true, but there's no better time to start transforming the way we grow our food than right now, and right now Giving Tree Gardens is digging in. We're proud to announce our collaboration with local food activists and farmers in the creation of <b>Grow! Twin Cities</b>, a model urban farm and multi-cultural growers co-op right on Rice Street. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;"> Plans include growing organic, heirloom vegetable starts in our greenhouses during the spring followed by heirloom peppers, tomatoes and melons during the summer and of course, we’ll be making tons of compost all season long. Several immigrant farmers will use the tillable land to grow for market. Plans may also include a beekeeper and fish farmer and growing other plants including; herbs, natives and plants for permaculture landscapes. Long term plans include replicating similar sites throughout the Twin Cities area. </span><br />
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<b>Grow! Twin Cities</b> will pool the talents and resources of local farmers from a variety of cultures to build this farm and co-op and begin the work of strengthening our local food system and bringing health to Twin Cities tables. There is room to Grow! with us, farmers and market gardeners looking for land and greenhouse space for rent in the Twin Cities should call (612) </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">492-1435 for more information.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">You Can Help! </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grow! Twin Cities is currently holding a fundraiser plant sale. Purchase strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry plants for planting in your own yard and help grow this exciting new urban farm with every purchase! Plant sale order forms and more information are available by calling (612) 492-1435 or </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">emailing Russ Henry (rhenry@gtgardens.com)....</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Watch for a new Grow! T.C. website sometime after spring planting season...</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Together with your help we can <b>Grow! Twin Cities!</b></span> </span></span></span></div><br />
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</div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-85304402460752835052011-04-19T13:26:00.000-07:002011-06-03T02:32:02.983-07:00Food Is The Second Medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78s78omm1Hu9nT4E8Tm_ujEAz1VO27UfZu0HZlj0vQZ_aUWipGwvCqPBZKsFt7HD4SiaHATHM9_LyUDfYuASWgE-hM7R6348XTNhkE2MVfdI6T7QZR8xKe4xw7okKy46wpZiS40VIayE/s1600/ApplesTurningRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78s78omm1Hu9nT4E8Tm_ujEAz1VO27UfZu0HZlj0vQZ_aUWipGwvCqPBZKsFt7HD4SiaHATHM9_LyUDfYuASWgE-hM7R6348XTNhkE2MVfdI6T7QZR8xKe4xw7okKy46wpZiS40VIayE/s320/ApplesTurningRed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="color: purple;"><b>The following is an excerpt from an interview that Russ Henry did with Growing Power as a part of Growing Power's series of interviews about race, justice, and the food system.</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</style></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Food is the second medicine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">My wife Shaunna tells me that water is the first medicine and food is the second. Shaunna is a beautiful Lakota Sioux woman who knows her heritage. Her grandparents taught her that water and food are medicine. What keeps us healthy and helps us most when we are sick are clean water and good food. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">We are spiritual beings having a physical experience. When our feelings are hurt or we’re down we might say our spirits are low. When we feel great we say we’re in high spirits. Our feelings are one reflection or dimension of our spirit that our bodies can easily perceive. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Our bodies’ condition can affect our feelings and spirit. Hormones, wounds, illness, health, touch and sensuality, all of these physical realities in our bodies interact with our spirits to help us feel emotions. Water and food provide our bodies with the energy to continue hosting our spirits. It’s common knowledge that our bodies absorb the physical qualities of the food we eat when we digest it and strip it of usable nutrients. What would happen if folks everywhere started to recognize that the spiritual qualities of the food we eat are absorbed and used by our spirits? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Have you ever heard someone say that Love is the most important ingredient in their cooking? More then one professional chef has told me this and though I love to cook, I’m not a chef. By trade I’m a gardener and farmer. In my experience, the same ingredient that good chefs pour into every dish in order to bring flavor to life is also the most important tool we have for growing healthy food. Love guides any holistically healthy growing operation. Love of people, love of Earth, and love of life are a few of the tools that growers can use everyday in their pursuit of health. Of course not all food is cooked with love and not all food is grown with love, sometimes food producers have other guiding principles. What principles helped guide the production of the food that you eat? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Some folks understand the concept of voting with a dollar. The idea is that when we spend money on something we are effectively voting to have more of that thing be produced. By spending our money we are also asking to have more of the spirit or emotional energy that surrounds the production of the items we purchase be created in the world. So if we ask the local farmers who refuse pesticides and plant heirloom crops for more of their food then they’ll do their best to grow more and the spirit of harmony and cooperation is fostered in their fields, but when we ask the farmers who spray pesticides and fertilizers and who plant genetically modified organisms for more of their food, they too do their best to grow more and the spirits of destruction and disease are fostered. This all comes home to our personal feelings and spirits when we ask ourselves a couple of sometimes hard to answer questions: Do I know where my food came from? Do I feel good about the place that my food came from? Do I feel like my food is full of healthy living nutrients, or is it possibly tainted with poisonous pesticides? When we look at food from this angle we see that from the moment we purchase food, it begins having an emotional impact on our own spiritual health and the health of the planet, an impact that we are in control of by the power of our choice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">When we honor ourselves we feel better. We honor ourselves when we give ourselves those things that are holistically good for us. We are fully connected in every way to this beautiful planet, the condition of the planet’s living systems guide the condition of humanity. When we honor life on Earth we foster health in our environment, when our environment is healthier so are we and we feel better. To honor our environment is to honor ourselves. Do the choices you make about food honor yourself and the environment? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">We are descendants and we are ancestors. Our ancestors made our lives possible and our descendants will only know life if we leave the world in functioning condition for them. I’ve heard it said that we did not inherit this world from our elders, instead we borrowed it from our children. If our ancestors had not honored us we would not have the chance to honor our descendants or have any fun ourselves. Should we leave the world a fun and functioning place for our kids and grandkids to enjoy? Should we choose to promote harmony and health in our lives by eating food that promotes harmony and health through its very production, or does it only matter what food tastes like and how much it costs?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJuTRv7h8u6zrvcxGBzmGTAGZ-iu0m1HAHE8lv0DeQ9SxtjZ_wN3NU0KiM57ZPfZdjvny-A0Ar-CI0Sf4jahIVJlcGpyyLt-hUOD85F22v2lB5BjcpDw_3RzqbiY07WIYbO2n_ThkoY4/s1600/CabbageHarves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJuTRv7h8u6zrvcxGBzmGTAGZ-iu0m1HAHE8lv0DeQ9SxtjZ_wN3NU0KiM57ZPfZdjvny-A0Ar-CI0Sf4jahIVJlcGpyyLt-hUOD85F22v2lB5BjcpDw_3RzqbiY07WIYbO2n_ThkoY4/s320/CabbageHarves.JPG" width="212" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Prayers can come true if you live them. A Lakota elder once told a group of folks I was sitting with that if you want to see your prayers come true you have to live them. What he said struck a chord with me. If I pray for a healthy environment then I need to work for and make choices that promote health in the environment. By this way of living I am empowered to work for a miracle, I like that because life on this planet seems like it needs a miracle right now. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Water is the first medicine and food is the second. What is good for us is also good for our home planet. Clean water and healthy organically grown food have the power to heal our wounded environments, bodies, and spirits. </span></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-68242801632207564442011-03-31T07:07:00.000-07:002011-06-03T03:25:44.385-07:00Growing A Sustainable City<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aoLO9DNgyCK16VfNcE94LBqXwVFY6pMkbKetuKrANrBLgf7FN0gCyhrRntO_u0MjnFqjFLu_KoQEUS3l8DLaCvHlIrw2QIfob3INh8Tu1pNH-gozwmzuXNBAb6W5NjX-haaKOPmncIo/s1600/30_Urban_Boulevard_Garden.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aoLO9DNgyCK16VfNcE94LBqXwVFY6pMkbKetuKrANrBLgf7FN0gCyhrRntO_u0MjnFqjFLu_KoQEUS3l8DLaCvHlIrw2QIfob3INh8Tu1pNH-gozwmzuXNBAb6W5NjX-haaKOPmncIo/s400/30_Urban_Boulevard_Garden.jpeg" width="265" /></a><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The city that gardens together grows sustainably together. Gardening is perhaps the greatest tool for building sustainability that we can all share</span>. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gardens can improve water quality, air quality, access to food, and personal health. Cities that actively nurture the gardening and urban farming efforts of their citizens reap the benefits of healthy communities. The nurturing of <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed45.html">sustainable cities</a> starts with the roots of the community. Wherever there is a strong activist gardener population, you will find wonderful green ideas and initiatives sprouting up all over!</b></span></div><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Rain gardens capture and filter rainwater run-off, community gardens and urban farms grow healthy food for people, locally grown food requires less trucking which keeps our air cleaner, fruit trees on the boulevard provide habitat for migrating birds and meeting places for neighbors. </b></span><br />
<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A city full of healthy gardens is a sustainable city full of happy people.</span> Each city in Minnesota has it’s own unique approach to sustainability. In this volume of the Seed, we’ll have a look at two cities in the metro area to see some great examples of how local governments work with residents to incorporate all kinds of great gardening into their sustainability plans in order to grow happy, healthy cities. <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed45.html"></a></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXbJsT-AmFSj9aqAJWcGnPq2h4RYSGe1-QlK0QylDspOBwVlvBfnPz2hhzetPxKNf5SgcczWyF5USte7iDI4mGFUt64AT90kRdsJ2L2hedlJRRkJNcxyINX1M-XeZ7pv5vLPmDLzhxHI/s1600/Minneapolis+Urban+Farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXbJsT-AmFSj9aqAJWcGnPq2h4RYSGe1-QlK0QylDspOBwVlvBfnPz2hhzetPxKNf5SgcczWyF5USte7iDI4mGFUt64AT90kRdsJ2L2hedlJRRkJNcxyINX1M-XeZ7pv5vLPmDLzhxHI/s320/Minneapolis+Urban+Farm.jpg" width="212" /></a><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size20 TrebuchetMS20" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Minneapolis</b></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Homegrown food, local food, or food security, however you want to look at it, Minneapolitans' taste in food is rapidly </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed38.html" target="_self">evolving</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>. </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>According to Gayle Prest, the city’s official Sustainability Director, </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>“Gardening is an integral part of the long term sustainability plan for Minneapolis”</b></span></span> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>With more then 100 community gardens and 33 farmers markets, this city is obviously hungry for healthy change. Leading the charge for this change is an official city organization called </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/homegrown-home.asp" target="_self">Homegrown Minneapolis</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> which is dedicated to nothing less then building a healthy, local food system for all Minneapolis residents. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJuonRJ6Zcg1ONxcATJS65sWXXummb_8RsW9RjQ7pCrIkWWgVkMYo16DpEnRVfLpvWDbVFJc6L3ICZ0OLcHCpEZh4f1EfdT6SET1hA6pgaMpJCVixg4rowkkRjP1Ao3UsJI5VOkLlYBw/s1600/40_TheSeed45%257E%257Eelement780.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJuonRJ6Zcg1ONxcATJS65sWXXummb_8RsW9RjQ7pCrIkWWgVkMYo16DpEnRVfLpvWDbVFJc6L3ICZ0OLcHCpEZh4f1EfdT6SET1hA6pgaMpJCVixg4rowkkRjP1Ao3UsJI5VOkLlYBw/s320/40_TheSeed45%257E%257Eelement780.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Homegrown has recently been hard at work on an </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/urban_ag_plan.asp" target="_self">Urban Agriculture Policy Plan</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> that will guide city land use decisions related to urban food production and distribution. The plan will help identify where and how land should be used to grow and distribute food through community and commercial gardens and urban farms. In short, this new ag-plan will help Minneapolis scale up to the next logical step in urban food production. By defining and allowing for urban farms, and market gardens, and by amending the zoning code to better accommodate urban agriculture this innovative plan will allow Minneapolis residents to have more control over their food choices, and more access to healthy homegrown food.</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The time to support the Urban Ag Plan is now, call your </b></span><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/council/" target="_self">city council person </a></b></span><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>today!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>-Update: Your Support Helped Get This Passed!- </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KVYumMwG-Q9V02LsUdS-bcybjkQM-amwImoCSmFcmNEEyXgMejrqozVN1KCDdliJm2et11M4OSqIz93YM0Fk6JMoDN8LGRTLGjdZIfJg09oloTfv1YFgOU41g_c7y2O25siVw-EzJK4/s1600/41_Urban_Minneapolis_Food_Garden.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KVYumMwG-Q9V02LsUdS-bcybjkQM-amwImoCSmFcmNEEyXgMejrqozVN1KCDdliJm2et11M4OSqIz93YM0Fk6JMoDN8LGRTLGjdZIfJg09oloTfv1YFgOU41g_c7y2O25siVw-EzJK4/s320/41_Urban_Minneapolis_Food_Garden.jpeg" width="212" /></a><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“The key to all of this is to start with deep rich organic soil made from our own compost”</span> </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gayle reminds me as we talk about the city’s goal for having curbside residential compostable waste pick up by 2014. This point is especially powerful as it shows yet another great way to improve our environment and our gardening habits at the same time. When we compost we reduce the amount of garbage going to burners and landfills and we improve our garden soil, that’s the kind of sustainable solution we can all grow from. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size20 TrebuchetMS20" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Maplewood</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwplzz4z1_UKx5CLmgd9sd94YiXnGRUjdAUgGQz7j7MTNeZwYF8I5W4doeHCt53iK_q_NmCe4bW5bGeaNbe3BRnULdkOzW0UZN-MmQo77xGxGc8XWFoRgo3Cm4mTlwRSt-QneIkSdgq10/s1600/36_Maplewood_Nature_Center_Garden.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwplzz4z1_UKx5CLmgd9sd94YiXnGRUjdAUgGQz7j7MTNeZwYF8I5W4doeHCt53iK_q_NmCe4bW5bGeaNbe3BRnULdkOzW0UZN-MmQo77xGxGc8XWFoRgo3Cm4mTlwRSt-QneIkSdgq10/s320/36_Maplewood_Nature_Center_Garden.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Oakley Biesanz, Naturalist for the City of Maplewood, explained to me some of the gardening strategies that are helping to grow a sustainable future for residents there. </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maplewood is a statewide leader</b> </span><b><span style="font-size: small;">in controlling water quality through </span></b></span><b><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=456" target="_self">rain gardening</a></span></b><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></b><b> With over 620 city installed rain gardens now thriving in residents yards, 60 more growing on city owned land and many more to come Maplewood is proving that rain gardens are an effective and beautiful way to keep waterways clean and healthy. With the city’s support and promotion rain gardening has become the standard for dealing with storm water run-off in Maplewood.</b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GkcOlhKx4WInNIcCQV6bBbx619LfCBrxsa6qnW_JucC48gEL-h37HI0-2SMVJXAixrf-pCAQyD9sP040BUWoDk0GmGToNyyptBnrQvn7jZsE-z1JE-PUHNlOSQiXuZHFmeIydGciGzE/s1600/37_Nature_Center_Garden_Maplewood.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GkcOlhKx4WInNIcCQV6bBbx619LfCBrxsa6qnW_JucC48gEL-h37HI0-2SMVJXAixrf-pCAQyD9sP040BUWoDk0GmGToNyyptBnrQvn7jZsE-z1JE-PUHNlOSQiXuZHFmeIydGciGzE/s320/37_Nature_Center_Garden_Maplewood.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>At the </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=342" target="_self">Nature Center</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> where Oakley works, the mission is to enhance resident’s awareness and understanding of land, water and wildlife resources; to empower the community to become stewards of the environment. This mission is clearly evident in the Demonstration Gardens, which include rainwater gardens, woodland wildflower and prairie butterfly gardens and a small section of no-mow grass.</b></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvCERXrD5z3OYREPJttxM1BBOJLv6bryK-PbEN75ivKbBZIU7QaZKnb0jZdm8KGEJTl5F2fLdJ0eeJ3pVpxA-pkW74Cj3sVmP4ZzHjKwXPsp6IXaV-5Ye0e2j3lix7Xgb9XjYhf1UvG4/s1600/33_TheSeed45%257E%257Eelement746.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvCERXrD5z3OYREPJttxM1BBOJLv6bryK-PbEN75ivKbBZIU7QaZKnb0jZdm8KGEJTl5F2fLdJ0eeJ3pVpxA-pkW74Cj3sVmP4ZzHjKwXPsp6IXaV-5Ye0e2j3lix7Xgb9XjYhf1UvG4/s320/33_TheSeed45%257E%257Eelement746.jpeg" width="212" /></a><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>For lawn enthusiasts, Maplewood has developed the</b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=742" target="_self"> Mow-Hi Pledge</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> This pledge to cut the grass no shorter then 3 inches and leave all the clippings on the lawn will help residents reduce fertilizer and watering costs and environmental impacts. Of course it doesn’t hurt that there’s a grand prize drawing for folks who are willing to take the pledge. </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=743" target="_self">Community gardens</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> are sprouting up in Maplewood this spring as part of a multi-city effort to improve access to food growing space. Working with the Maplwood-North St. Paul Parks and Rec. department, School District 622 and a local church, the two cities will now be able to offer over 650 community garden plots available to the public this spring.</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI8m9J9qvfHgPKfp91my9PBX79WrwQBRtry_5zhU1DM8BKvBW7b728G6MsPGleB-EM7M2dCaqK08e6tVeMnpS0bLuDdUnX1akLJJOUiYyVCVs37r0Y_3eZ0BO4vebV18sGO60bU1Ti6U/s1600/38_Butterfly_Rain_Garden.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI8m9J9qvfHgPKfp91my9PBX79WrwQBRtry_5zhU1DM8BKvBW7b728G6MsPGleB-EM7M2dCaqK08e6tVeMnpS0bLuDdUnX1akLJJOUiYyVCVs37r0Y_3eZ0BO4vebV18sGO60bU1Ti6U/s400/38_Butterfly_Rain_Garden.jpeg" width="265" /></a><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the long run, sustainability is just the only common sense approach to life, and gardening is the simplest approach to sustainability that we have available. </span> </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Whether you’re filtering rain water run off through rain gardens in order to keep the ground water, rivers, and lakes clean or keeping nutrients in your neighborhood by composting in your back yard, or maybe even growing your own food and medicine at home or with neighbors in a community garden, these are all among the most Earth friendly, community building habits humans can all share. </b></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It takes a village to raise a garden and no one should be left out of the process. From youth to elders, from city council members to dirt gardeners, we all have a stake in helping to grow a sustainable city right where we live and we all need to work hard and connect with our community if we are going to see success. </b></span></div><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gardeners, take the opportunity this spring to think globally, garden locally and start to grow a sustainable city!</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed45.html">Click here to read this article in its original newsletter format!</a></b></span></div><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #9e0704; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-91232376608468218912011-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:002011-02-11T08:14:01.052-08:00Photo contest winner!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIHj9DiMQRfBY13xQBIuJFeWrQiV4HM0ln5yLrY-0GrDbyh3dKEH7ka7WJgJrJyh2aNbH8n9yHyNjnKOic91eV8z-piaYWOZ4FhWUUwG9Op9ber85uMFWS0kGYe1LDDVVuADxY17L1Qg/s400/DSC_0132.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">This ant visiting a forsythia picture took a second place in the Men's Garden Club of Minneapolis Photo Show!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-46207352127724065372011-02-10T12:56:00.000-08:002011-02-10T12:56:55.580-08:00Magnolia in the Breeze<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGX7_2ww6GvN-vtk817KWEWPPy8ZDwIR1gbvN_G8cfbC9WWBYhYH5ax0FtgcTQZfOcYguuZ7JU-XtEvIHbPIekab0NrdIitl-Rb_KSMIcY1PafezDcfUMcHr9a0_zAtK4aB0tnBz-3I0/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGX7_2ww6GvN-vtk817KWEWPPy8ZDwIR1gbvN_G8cfbC9WWBYhYH5ax0FtgcTQZfOcYguuZ7JU-XtEvIHbPIekab0NrdIitl-Rb_KSMIcY1PafezDcfUMcHr9a0_zAtK4aB0tnBz-3I0/s400/DSC_0137.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><b style="color: blue;">Best in Show! This picture I snapped last spring of a magnolia in the breeze was awarded a prize by The Men's Garden Club of Minneapolis. </b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-81340703698331829252011-02-05T09:15:00.000-08:002011-06-03T02:33:29.852-07:00Gardeners Get Involved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQiZt06g1rhlUeuiz6lDFyZD9YeM21WRZ08AJZ9Ny-0tg32WOxfb-t2AhF5beIctsT60lADZBfHRq71BO9Yaqlj0YVaRbSkLVQ9zqNZfQ5AgrKE5gnOOEn4MH_8kbj40YTUhKsyIGFxs/s1600/TheSeed44%257E%257Eelement701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQiZt06g1rhlUeuiz6lDFyZD9YeM21WRZ08AJZ9Ny-0tg32WOxfb-t2AhF5beIctsT60lADZBfHRq71BO9Yaqlj0YVaRbSkLVQ9zqNZfQ5AgrKE5gnOOEn4MH_8kbj40YTUhKsyIGFxs/s320/TheSeed44%257E%257Eelement701.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>An optimist looking over their own garden fence might be inclined to say something like “Wow, the vegetable patch is half full.” A pessimist looking at the same plot would say, “shucks, the vegetable patch is half empty.” but when a </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>giving</i></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> person comes upon that same garden they say “Look at all those vegetables, I’m going to go find som</b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>e </i></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>hungry people.”</b></span></div><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gardeners are natural givers</b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, because the garden teaches us the importance of giving. When we give our plants compost, they thrive and produce. When we give our bodies home grown foods, we thrive and are productive. When we share all this productive health by giving the gift of </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><i>access to gardening</i></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>to folks who wouldn’t otherwise have it, we share one of the most profoundly transformative gifts imaginable. For many a gardener there’s almost no greater feeling then to share a skill, tool, piece of land, or even just a nice conversation that will help another gardener grow. Minneapolis is a giving and green city. As a gardener and volunteer, there’s never a shortage of great organizations here that I can get involved with in order to share the gifts gardening can give. </b></span><br />
<div align="justify"><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gardeningmatters.org/" target="_self">Gardening Matters</a></b></span><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>a Minneapolis based non-profit agency has been busy organizing several social service providers city-wide in order to help them work together in the garden. Many local agencies such as </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.puc-mn.org/NeighborhoodCenters/WaiteHouse/tabid/196/Default.aspx" target="_self">Waite House</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.sabathani.org/" target="_self">Sabathani Community Center</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, and </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.youthfarm.net/work.htm" target="_self">Youth Farm and Market Project</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> have been working to increase Minneapolis residents’ access to gardening for decades. Gardening Matters plan is to link up all these great organizations along with local gardening volunteers and businesses to create Garden Resource Hubs that residents in need can access for garden classes and information, planting space and gardening resources. </b></span></div><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gardening Matters is working with activists, businesses, and neighbors from across the city in order to have the resource hubs up and running by the spring of 2011. In the meantime, this month’s issue of The Seed will introduce you to a few of the grand gardening groups getting together to give their green gifts through the gardening resource hubs. If you’re a gardener with some time to give, you may consider a donation of your expertise and elbow grease to some of these great organizations. <a href="http://givingtreegardens.com/TheSeed44.html">Click here to find out more!</a></b></span>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-44940883249528285202010-10-31T09:20:00.000-07:002011-06-19T22:26:29.016-07:00Willie Nelson Peace Institute publishes Russ Henry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfsso26FnNx7Z8R86rxwYBl8KDpajLJagm0FJo4cLmEH8PuLjtRcGQKZ-nfVviI6BAsSGeLS4vLQ58jQlQGX4tGNm8f__JBbWLIP6BYryNqKgYtcgx-mUDV-KZGXUlt9H3F1fxnkLiow/s1600/seedthumbnail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfsso26FnNx7Z8R86rxwYBl8KDpajLJagm0FJo4cLmEH8PuLjtRcGQKZ-nfVviI6BAsSGeLS4vLQ58jQlQGX4tGNm8f__JBbWLIP6BYryNqKgYtcgx-mUDV-KZGXUlt9H3F1fxnkLiow/s200/seedthumbnail.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/">Willie Nelson</a> has been my hero since I was a little cowboy. Now I'm all grown up and I still look up to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G9wXWr40WA">red headed stranger</a>. Willie has spent his whole career standing up for family farmers who have become powerless in our country.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/family-farms/7580/minnesota-needs-medical-marijuana.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv3KOTLjOOXKH7ch9ioJmD1p6m01gmZ5YGNCZrVPzQkVCxr-Y8gZQz2HZIXEBnYNReUAoD19BMyClOIn-9-TlrC2kJyNrI_rkP-ncfb0wxRPHPyCRqhT429TLqzEqQ2vmsRJPym1lg7o/s320/DSC_0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Willie knows that <a href="http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com/">medical marijuana</a> and <a href="http://www.hempforvictory.blogspot.com/">industrial hemp</a> have the growing power to save American family farmers from going belly up, and he's fought to show us all that Marijuana is medicine given from god, not a dangerous drug as owners of the alcohol, paper, and cotton industries in America would like us to believe. <br />
Willie's strength, determination, and grace have inspired me in my own career, and shown me how to be strong enough to stand up for what I believe in. <br />
I believe that medical marijuana's time has come in Minnesota, I believe that we can't afford to let our politicians drag their heels on this one. Willie Nelson apparently agrees and he's <a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/family-farms/7580/minnesota-needs-medical-marijuana.html">published a blog post </a>that I submitted just in time for this election season, demanding an end to the prohibition of this our magic medicine. <a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/family-farms/7580/minnesota-needs-medical-marijuana.html">Click here</a> to read how medical marijuana can strengthen and grow Minnesota's locally grown food movement!<br />
<a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/family-farms/7580/minnesota-needs-medical-marijuana.html">God Bless Willie Nelson, and God Bless Our Family Farmers!</a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-65267518853417503112010-10-13T06:50:00.000-07:002011-06-26T21:59:52.661-07:00Breaking The Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYG9avzy1V9M253Gt9rOLzH8q93fEWLR4VPURd-jZLT9ptpWTo2NSMJH07BVLATq_gVx1oUE2niLQiLPzUdsBXWA9UpmSZ6hFgxqmn62bJ2-J4vFxMVuGQe_Bl3lVpQrGg-1ykJ5XpUg/s320/DSC_0034.JPG" width="212" /></div><div align="justify"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most of my heroes are outlaws</span></b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>.</b></span><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><br />
<span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>My heroes are folks that are not afraid to stand up and defend what’s right, no matter the cost. My heroes are folks who are brave enough to live a life full of meaning and passion even when the rule-makers of the day demand banality and submission. </b></span></div><br />
<span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie" target="_self">Rachel Corrie</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> stood in front of those bulldozers with a force of will no army can stop. </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gzfrxq95ldae" target="_self">John Trudell</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> still works for peace and justice even after his mother in-law, wife, and children were taken in a fire that was set to silence him. And good old </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Nelson" target="_self">Willie Nelson</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, no matter how many times the authorities bust him down for his choice in medicine, he keeps on touring ‘round the world raising money for struggling </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://willienelsonpri.com/peace/5474/end-hemp-prohibition-support-farm-aid.html" target="_self">family farmers</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> that the government has priced off the land. If they can do that, if they can all be so brave and free, then so can we. </b></span><br />
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<blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #996600;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We should be inspired by people... who show that human beings can be kind, brave, generous, beautiful, strong-even in the most difficult circumstances.</span></span></b></span></span></i></div><i> </i><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie" target="_self"><span style="color: #996600;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~Rachel Corrie</b></span></span></a></div></blockquote><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1312007176"><br />
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<span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Right now the world could use some garden outlaws.</b></span></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Gardens hold the potential to heal what ails us in so many ways, from reducing global carbon emissions, to providing people with affordable healthy meals, to securing local economies, to growing community health and cultural wealth. With all this potential at our fingertips, we can’t let the rules hold back or working hands any longer. We need to stand in the way of the march of industry, plant our plants, and sing our songs, and cultivate our culture so that we can grow a healthy planet once again. Read below to find out how you can be a </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>garden rebel</b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, and a outlaw hero in your own back yard!</b></span><br />
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<span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Good Guys Break Bad Rules</b></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G0nOd00dbyPjqzAhauREPTajYiFqHRDeufJE7s5U2ISvpWvsyOmiHj8yq3_dZwape0j8xbKR0QsJPGyMhAs8UwfLuOJDh3_dnQrs-5TWBvaFASRw2DeYNveL0PQfUO53JL-D4BDOUqE/s1600/41_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement745.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G0nOd00dbyPjqzAhauREPTajYiFqHRDeufJE7s5U2ISvpWvsyOmiHj8yq3_dZwape0j8xbKR0QsJPGyMhAs8UwfLuOJDh3_dnQrs-5TWBvaFASRw2DeYNveL0PQfUO53JL-D4BDOUqE/s400/41_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement745.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #9e0704; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>They keep makin’ ‘em, and we keep breakin’ ‘em!</b></span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>When one of us stands up and breaks a bad rule alone, that person becomes an example to us all, a hero.</b></span></span><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>When all of us stand up and break bad rules together, those bad rules change! </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><i><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #406ab0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The eagle is a living symbol of </span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #b91806; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">freedom</span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #406ab0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">.</span><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #406ab0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This eagle survives in the same habitat that we all share and live from, the eagle is also a symbol of our own well being. The fight for freedom and health in America is far from over, my friends. Complying with rules and rule makers that persuade us to destroy habitat, sells the foundation of freedom out from under our feet. Without the freedom to live in a healthy environment, we have no freedom at all!</span></i></div><i> </i><br />
<div align="justify"><i><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #406ab0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><i> <span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #406ab0; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Freedom isn't a gift handed down from the king, </span><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #b91806; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">freedom is a jewel stolen by the peasants!</span></i><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RF8J1m-J-hHy7zo-lgQexe8Ng25HwSSF88b6MIxO9e-EwKCHBubMTJJg4-HFgcmlbh3cXljwDOQU7cycurkMg6Uk6isfEy-ZBpiuwevESVVzedLHvfq1LFiBm0y2nEu-cEM4vTzENHY/s1600/42_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement746.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RF8J1m-J-hHy7zo-lgQexe8Ng25HwSSF88b6MIxO9e-EwKCHBubMTJJg4-HFgcmlbh3cXljwDOQU7cycurkMg6Uk6isfEy-ZBpiuwevESVVzedLHvfq1LFiBm0y2nEu-cEM4vTzENHY/s400/42_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement746.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #b91806; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Rise up, break the rules and steal back your freedom!</b></span><br />
<span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #b91806; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bad rules hold back our creative spirits, bad rules keep us from our true nature. Bad rules are made to be broken by good people, so let’s all prove our honor for this Earth that made us, let all good people band together now and break the rules till the rules are good once again.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We don't run, We don't compromise, We don't quit, </span></span>We never do. We look for love, We find it in the eyes, The eyes of me, the eyes of you.</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.willienelson.com/" target="_self"><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~Willie Nelson </b></span></span></a></div></blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>These Rotten Rules Have</b></span></span><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> GOT TO GO!</b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Rotten Rule 1</b></i></span></span><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>.</b></span></span><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>- No Weeds:</b></i></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed39.html" target="_self"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Weeds are free food and medicine.</span></span></a></b><span style="color: #d36100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dandelion, purslane, lamb’s quarters, creeping charlie, nettle, and plantain are just a few examples of the weeds that the rule makers tell us are bad plants while in reality these plants provide us with the most nutritious and abundant source of locally produced food. This is a simple matter of access to health. Why pay doctors and food companies, if we have free healthy food and medicine at home? When I look at the shelves of any big box grocery store, I can tell that the rule-makers of today don’t care for our health as much as they care for their profit. </span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We can’t eat the grass they tell us to grow in our yards, but we can eat the weeds they tell us to kill. Now does that make sense to you?</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200209/23_steilm_1862-m/part2.shtml" target="_self"><span style="color: #d36100;">“</span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Let them eat grass”</b></span></span></a><span style="color: #d36100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>ring a bell for anyone?</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCUH_WhQGHI-GEJWYCF45xfwoqLSDDIpWRBcko2vzIe5pwWWkHFbsbIFmImLCFCsFhmOAtg62iwMIqI_9cR5si602x0a6JViMmpIBQs-fEi_Ab5jvtGAJzVjatERUjouSV9q-D4ebw0E/s1600/45_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement752.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCUH_WhQGHI-GEJWYCF45xfwoqLSDDIpWRBcko2vzIe5pwWWkHFbsbIFmImLCFCsFhmOAtg62iwMIqI_9cR5si602x0a6JViMmpIBQs-fEi_Ab5jvtGAJzVjatERUjouSV9q-D4ebw0E/s320/45_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement752.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Rotten Rule 2.</b></i></span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yards Should Be Tidy</span>:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ever been to the jungle? How ‘bout the woods, prairie, or meadow? You really don’t see row plantings in nature. Rows are for folks who don’t believe in abundance. The natural world preaches abundance at every turn. Mother Nature eschews boring old rows in favor of filling every square inch of land with an ever-shifting variety of plants uniquely suited for their home environs. To plant the exact same corn or tomato in the exact same spot year after year is one practice nature never intended, it’s just too draining on the soils. We need to let our gardens grow us as much as we grow them, and have a long loving look at what the environment is trying to grow in our yards before we go tearing out everything that didn’t come with a price tag.</b></span></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN9J0MOxG4ZW0cauA4iIISHk949p3VJ9vTlKtTGXSUWrhfpcvzGSuox5I46VPFMSQ_UuirkMtE0gAyjtjx3WpraV31Fw2FTpWcS4cF2VpXVQ7qdmI78CWhW440_9gMePQUeG5FrCyqOs/s1600/39_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement741.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN9J0MOxG4ZW0cauA4iIISHk949p3VJ9vTlKtTGXSUWrhfpcvzGSuox5I46VPFMSQ_UuirkMtE0gAyjtjx3WpraV31Fw2FTpWcS4cF2VpXVQ7qdmI78CWhW440_9gMePQUeG5FrCyqOs/s320/39_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement741.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Rotten Rule 3.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gardens Cost Money:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Really this rule is much more sinister then first glance would reveal. Gardening is a human tool by which we gain access to food, health, and beauty. Gardening also connects us with our earthen nature. If we go around telling ourselves that this amazing, connective, life supporting activity is only for the wealthy, we might as well go ahead and sign away our entire life’s labors in the pursuit of someone else’s happiness. As long as we’re working for the man, we’re not working for ourselves. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Join a garden club, connect with <a href="http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=COMGAR-L" target="_self">Comgar</a>, talk with neighbors, friends, or family who garden, there’s no shortage of ways to connect yourself to a garden. Find some place that you can start getting your hands dirty in the pursuit of health. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>One of the easiest ways to break this rule is to <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed32.html" target="_self">start composting</a>! Compost is wealth pulled from waste, and you’ll never find a bigger return on investment in health then your time spent composting!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="color: #6aa84f;">Gardens don't need to cost the farm! Let your friends help, collect seeds, grow your compost pile from garbage, and throw a garden party to share the fun!</i><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_MVIRhj9tVsqFArgSLQNfB8jl3Sjg4ontXdCEosg6hcwSKzt7BLEasz5kZBc2u351nIcbsmkgQ0mXNDrpIVvnW7qDPLQ2Qp77r8P8tbz852mT1heiI2mVsn-kM2e_s_ehfuZaMeqUyY/s1600/38_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement739.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_MVIRhj9tVsqFArgSLQNfB8jl3Sjg4ontXdCEosg6hcwSKzt7BLEasz5kZBc2u351nIcbsmkgQ0mXNDrpIVvnW7qDPLQ2Qp77r8P8tbz852mT1heiI2mVsn-kM2e_s_ehfuZaMeqUyY/s400/38_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement739.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Rotten Rule 4.</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i><b>Illegal Animals:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>This rooster's on the lam. While chickens are allowed in the city, Johny Law finds roosters to be a feather too foul.</i></span></span></div><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I live in a city that has a rich heritage of back yard farming. One of the most common man-made objects I come across while excavating city soils are horse shoes. This city used to have cows, pigs, sheep, horses, goats and chickens as common in back yards as lawnmowers are today. We used to gather our own fresh milk and eggs every morning from the barn out back and saddle up the horse to go to work. This city is no different then any other in America in this aspect. Animal husbandry is a rich and important part of the cultural heritage of a majority of the folks now living here. Unfortunately, we are now denied the freedom to practice our heritage by the <a href="http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/animal-control/Permits.asp" target="_self">City of Minneapolis, Animal Control Department. </a> </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Lets go down the list, Horses, Cows, Pigs, Sheep, Goats and Roosters…. All Illeagal.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys, and Bees…. Legal but unreasonable and cost prohibitive licensing required, less rule breakers face up to $2,000 in fines. Why do they have these bad rules in place? If I had my guess it’s so that wealthier folks in mixed income neighborhoods can spare their eyes and noses from the real life sights and smells of people living as people should. </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkxsBmLL_l1hZA7yQFSs36FtDBHiahvoolSSsAvHgJ0IU8DeqBU8k5qOU7uzcV4lI3MrczOPjnsFnorSX-YH4VgSJV_NelzlY9zURsgDAAuk3s4ccBOpo8U1aCMQuo37ZI8jbeZZj_kw/s1600/37600018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkxsBmLL_l1hZA7yQFSs36FtDBHiahvoolSSsAvHgJ0IU8DeqBU8k5qOU7uzcV4lI3MrczOPjnsFnorSX-YH4VgSJV_NelzlY9zURsgDAAuk3s4ccBOpo8U1aCMQuo37ZI8jbeZZj_kw/s400/37600018.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Why should we pay fees to the city just so we can care for our own basic needs? Seems to me like the <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4335962/robin_hood_movie_trailer/" target="_self">sheriff of Nottingham</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>no longer wishes to be paid off in eggs and mead, but would like our silver instead. Avast ye scoundrels! Let the good people be free!!</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until recently beekeeping was illegal in Minneapolis, and even today the tax man wants a cut just for a resident to get a beekeeping permit. Ask old</span></span><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/4335962/robin_hood_movie_trailer/" target="_self"><span style="color: #23671c;"> </span><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friar Tuck</span></span></a><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, no one should come between a man and his mead! Free The Bees!</span></span></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #3f9c2d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #23671c;">"I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?"</span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #23671c;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~Willie Nelson</b></span></span><span style="color: #23671c;"> </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8jG3DAkUR9tzhg4t7QnzFXK3rAos_d_HSM0TDWf4CfgjysNd7vNUi_SifW26Hir1JLIeP1n2asYdSJGURT0T4_AplpPweZPeGdJIEqlPTi8TUsQIzLsyZ-GHnTBWa2GM0XOrVy6fDPQ/s1600/TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8jG3DAkUR9tzhg4t7QnzFXK3rAos_d_HSM0TDWf4CfgjysNd7vNUi_SifW26Hir1JLIeP1n2asYdSJGURT0T4_AplpPweZPeGdJIEqlPTi8TUsQIzLsyZ-GHnTBWa2GM0XOrVy6fDPQ/s320/TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement728.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #b91806; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>Rotten Rule 5.</b></i><b> Illegal Plants:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis" target="_self"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Marijuana is medicine</b></span></span></a><span style="color: #d36100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>and it’s legal for use</b></span></span><a href="http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881" target="_self"><span style="color: #d36100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>in 14 states</b></span></span></a><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Marijuana is also an easy to grow plant that can be sold for between one and four thousand dollars per pound depending on the variety and quality.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Now if you’re an urban Minneapolis farmer who is really trying to make a go of it selling tomatoes for a dollar and a quarter per pound or potatoes for sixtynine cents per pound while rent is already too expensive and taxes are on the rise, you might just look over the fence at your compatriot urban farming friends in Denver or Detroit and deduce that medicinal Mary Jane is an urban farmers best friend. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Medicinal marijuana in Minnesota is a must if we are to keep urban farmers from going bust. The only reason they keep this weed illegal anywhere is to line the pockets of pharmaceutical companies instead of farmers. That’s the kind of BS that I’d like to see turned into compost! </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Imagine a city filled with farms and gardens that provided affordable organic food and medicine for its citizens. Legalizing medicinal marijuana is the only way we are going to make this wonderful pipe dream a green reality. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0qKy2pCBahzpHI5NDi0Mzm2mhJRWBihXIC36pVVmZoP5vVPybUaW6xzhkfViJN2oK1DXsVw3qvxcRgmDu7vCE1ftnwJhFZ7iGLstxuscKfnvifh0we17dWvfNVusAMnJvCIwa20SQOg/s1600/44_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement748.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0qKy2pCBahzpHI5NDi0Mzm2mhJRWBihXIC36pVVmZoP5vVPybUaW6xzhkfViJN2oK1DXsVw3qvxcRgmDu7vCE1ftnwJhFZ7iGLstxuscKfnvifh0we17dWvfNVusAMnJvCIwa20SQOg/s400/44_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement748.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>To all the rulebreakers, to all the rebels, to all tomorrows heros, I tell you, you are not alone. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Dare to dream, dare to live, and inspire those near you to dare to be free!</b></span></span><br />
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<div><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #996600; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>"No matter what they ever do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #996600; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.johntrudell.com/" target="_self">~ John Trudell</a></b></span></div></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg800NRUlSEXw5_3p2dkZ6IsJqz0JDW1FYxkICrBcpi_hyphenhyphenOqDdV0qhgbjMe1GEHrRBPHBKhCqtPQ9QsbEtnF8FZvBxRSoZ7LQQJJYtKwoH6Lb2-aLMU6zduz7YNzFR9FAnOGFHfXm7kkEk/s1600/36_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement731.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg800NRUlSEXw5_3p2dkZ6IsJqz0JDW1FYxkICrBcpi_hyphenhyphenOqDdV0qhgbjMe1GEHrRBPHBKhCqtPQ9QsbEtnF8FZvBxRSoZ7LQQJJYtKwoH6Lb2-aLMU6zduz7YNzFR9FAnOGFHfXm7kkEk/s640/36_TheSeed43%257E%257Eelement731.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-82157590108471226132010-09-28T11:47:00.000-07:002011-06-03T02:35:11.396-07:00An Introduction To Health, The Seed #42<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZC53-P7m2psJNWWdEqxQCub5AGkwM0UoC3FTmx-quV6N6jZW306FzvUcI2wnzmc4BL1EVeQe-neZupJ-ZEj8VIx-IQaNKa5EjLWdMbEdG5NW2vdszs6sLUWwg1LfM_Rn8ItArzC5JpY/s320/DSC_0295.JPG" width="212" /></div><br />
<div align="justify"><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Did ya ever get catch a cold</b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> and think “maybe I should have eaten more then just chips and ice cream for the last few days?” Do you ever pick up something heavy in the morning and think not long afterward how a good stretch would have prevented you from the daylong backache you’re about to endure? Maybe I’m forgetful, or maybe I’m just getting older, but I need a little help from a healing heart every now and then. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>After growing up in a family that relied on regular old take-a-pill-if-you’re-sic western medicine, I wasn’t ready till just a few years ago to start seeing healers that practiced anything other than standard U.S. medical school procedures. Sometimes I figure I’m one lucky guy. I think I’d still be going to the take-a-pill doc for my various ailments if it weren’t for the very lucky fact that so many years ago I was blessed to meet </b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.diamondstoneom.com/" target="_self">Katherine Krumwiede</a></b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>. I knew right away that Katherine would be a lifelong friend, but it wasn’t until after I made the leap of faith and called her for help, that I would come to know her as a trusted healer. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I remember calling her office for the first time a few years ago when I was suffering from a back pain that was keeping me from moving. I had mostly had bad luck with western doctors, spotty luck with non-western doctors and this time I wanted to talk to someone I could trust. While I knew she’d been in practice for a couple of years, I don’t get sick a whole lot and hadn’t yet visited so I still had no idea what was in store for me. </b></span><br />
<div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Now at this point I’m used to seeing the doctors who want to have me take a pain pill and go see a specialist, or tell me something less then reassuring like “I’m not sure what it is, but it will probably go away.” Looking back, it’s silly to think that I’d pay to go to a doctor and not expect healing, but that’s the space I was in. So when I visited Katherine and the pain in my body went from stifling to entirely manageable in one treatment, then entirely gone in two treatments without chemical drugs or side effects, I was sold, hooked, and permanently changed. I’d seen the light, and I wasn’t going back.</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Since that first magical treatment I’ve gone to Katherine for every ache I can’t shake. Not only is she an ace with the acupuncture, but Katherine’s understanding of the plant world and use of the healing power of plants never ceases to amaze this gardener. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This special edition of The Seed is </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>dedicated to the health of our readers and their loved ones</b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>. Click below to hear from the healer herself, </b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Katherine Krumwiede</b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>, proprietor of </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://givingtreegardens.com/TheSeed42.html"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7401924047103962280&postID=8215759010847122613" target="_self">Diamond Stone Oriental Medicine. </a></b></span></div></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-64697678026791504162010-08-19T15:35:00.000-07:002010-08-19T15:35:40.551-07:00Stefan's Fantastic Farm<span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kd-MdsU7RjG7wlBVEeibOvzk2VtR7WBjrRggVGsrA3dNziZksE_t7_I8esQxK78XEvOpjYTkWRXxId07wFgjOh77YzDeNC0KdbafLVYtk7_9BjV4G73NMtAB5g3RCWsp2yrw-YOC7u8/s1600/DSC_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Kd-MdsU7RjG7wlBVEeibOvzk2VtR7WBjrRggVGsrA3dNziZksE_t7_I8esQxK78XEvOpjYTkWRXxId07wFgjOh77YzDeNC0KdbafLVYtk7_9BjV4G73NMtAB5g3RCWsp2yrw-YOC7u8/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Stefan Meyer</b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>is one guy we could all learn a lot from. As the driving force behind Minneapolis’ most ingenious new food production business, </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://growinglots.blogspot.com/" target="_self">Growing Lots Urban Farm,</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> Stefan is demonstrating for all of us the potential power held in the ground beneath our vacant urban lots. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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 atmosphere of tolerance toward nature in a city where inspectors routinely cite homeowners for “Overhanging Vegetation”, and until recently bees and chickens were illegal creatures. </b></span></div><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Now that the officials have decided we can go ahead and grow, smart folks like Stefan aren’t waiting around for them to change their minds. Late last year Stefan got together with Redesign Inc. a local community development corporation that encourages all kinds of good green growth throughout Minneapolis. With a little help from these folks, and a whole lot of hard work Stefan has pushed the way forward for the development of Minneapolis’ first parking lot-covering urban farm. </b></span><br />
<span class="size20 TrebuchetMS20" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>W</b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>here once was blacktop now tomatoes are growing! This is just the type of change welcome in a city hungry for homegrown health. <a href="http://givingtreegardens.com/TheSeed41.html">Click Here to find out more about Stefan’s fantastic farm and the amazing power each of us has to grow our city!</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-71555033533289402702010-08-10T14:07:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:02:40.434-07:00The Seed Volume 40, Butterfly Gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn8IXLtRnEkT7RPjDwQGyPNzHOdaVqW7z3Nytslbdu2_TjzxeNgncjwB_JvPuwIb_yX8nVUXip8TXEjqIxKTiucGRkfKS6BTz2S7jR65xZTujNOf0k9Xo9g7IQ8mUCTU0_CmhEIWwJBc/s1600/45_DSC_0032.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn8IXLtRnEkT7RPjDwQGyPNzHOdaVqW7z3Nytslbdu2_TjzxeNgncjwB_JvPuwIb_yX8nVUXip8TXEjqIxKTiucGRkfKS6BTz2S7jR65xZTujNOf0k9Xo9g7IQ8mUCTU0_CmhEIWwJBc/s320/45_DSC_0032.jpeg" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Why do we love butterflies so much? </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Is it the beauty and freedom that define their days? Is it the transformative potential of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupa#Chrysalis" target="_self">chrysalis</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #865802;"> </span><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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? </b></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #996600;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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.</b></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #996600;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne" target="_self">Nathaniel Hawthorne</a></b></span></span></div></blockquote></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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, agility, and grace, the butterflies’ lackadaisical charm flutters ever deeper into our hearts. While the honey bees work day and night to serve our human purposes, so many people react to their little striped suits with sheer panic, but come the lazy butterfly hopping around on the breeze and people everywhere stop to smile. I think if I was an ant or a spider I might be a little jealous of those gaudy butterflies.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"> </span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Whatever the reason, folks love butterflies, and that’s good enough for me. When we make a home for butterflies, we make a home for all nature. Whatever jealousy the other bugs might feel for butterflies surely would abate if they had any notion that in honor of these little winged wonders, wantonly destructive humans take a momentary pause from laying waste to the land to build butterfly sanctuaries and gardens where all sorts of creepy crawlies can make a cozy home.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>As a naturalist, I think it’s high time we humans started devoting more space to the other creatures we share this planet with, and if butterflies can guide the way towards a healthy habitat, so be it!</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I’ve heard it said that love is like a butterfly; it goes wherever it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.</b></span></span><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> I suppose then that just as we need to prepare our hearts if they are to receive love, we need to prepare our yards if they are to receive butterflies. This month’s volume of The Seed is dedicated to preparing the hearts, minds, and yards of Minnesota gardeners to receive the whimsical love that only butterflies can give.</b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.</b></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan" target="_self">Carl Sagan</a></b></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."</b></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Anderson" target="_self">Hans Christian Anderson</a></b></span></span></div></blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKs6JFLjYO_Y5BTt8xT55YE8b4Bn6r8Dvpt4Dkr-2J7-55R8AhU4AynVI2FObDt2_Gr65TtyM25xu-PVL202taL2REjsis9mURJIeeY6Kps8AmpTb0bXON-0rUINL3-Tz8SG7HKqFEl8/s1600/36_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement684.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKs6JFLjYO_Y5BTt8xT55YE8b4Bn6r8Dvpt4Dkr-2J7-55R8AhU4AynVI2FObDt2_Gr65TtyM25xu-PVL202taL2REjsis9mURJIeeY6Kps8AmpTb0bXON-0rUINL3-Tz8SG7HKqFEl8/s320/36_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement684.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The Butterfly Effect</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tiny actions can have huge effects on complex systems. The butterfly effect is a theory used by scientists and storytellers alike to explain the notion that even seemingly insignificant actions can have a huge impact over time. With this in mind I like to ask myself a seemingly tiny question. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What is the effect of my life on the Earth’s living systems? The size of this question however should not be judged by the number of words it takes to ask, but by the millennia it takes to answer.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Our daily decisions have impacts far beyond our capacity to understand. </b></span></span><br />
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<i><span class="size9 Tahoma9" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Monarchs below and Western Tiger Swallowtail above feast on the nectar of summer blooming native perennial plants. Butterfly gardening grows beauty and environmental health. I like to plant a few deeply rooted butterfly attracting native plants in amongst my vegetable gardens. Not only are my vegetable crops helped when the perennial roots draw moisture from deep in the ground durring the heat of the summer, but the butteflies are happy to see the free food I've grown them, and I'm happy to see the butterflies!</span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbkgwwvmfAGaHvp82i_m0oVibHqXi4lZbXr222-kUYtsZqkxxLpjKf7SeVz6wqeQvdInQya4QNva70KHmOdr9FHOdhmcl7bzFguWwu1L9xuz_zGykCiD0pT84I2Nu_KpYh1F6XTcWkUQ/s1600/37_DSC_0046.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbkgwwvmfAGaHvp82i_m0oVibHqXi4lZbXr222-kUYtsZqkxxLpjKf7SeVz6wqeQvdInQya4QNva70KHmOdr9FHOdhmcl7bzFguWwu1L9xuz_zGykCiD0pT84I2Nu_KpYh1F6XTcWkUQ/s320/37_DSC_0046.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I like to think of myself as a snowflake falling on the side of a mountain, helping to build an avalanche. I may be one of countless billions of tiny, seemingly unimportant, unique forms, but without my weight on the mountainside would the avalanche take longer to fall? Does my positioning help other snowflakes land and hold fast?</b></span></span><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q-Zawg_HzxZM0WNhs9n7R3PrSaNislBhbjJfFE56kmzFvBW0YyMCJ5NGQwa7n3tQQtQDu7SbdvgODaFeAQa9O3jiRcMxMtVpiuKKxjVIiar7HPiG7jIa0lEab-EVeZNTsYF3iW5EhyQ/s1600/32_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement680.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5q-Zawg_HzxZM0WNhs9n7R3PrSaNislBhbjJfFE56kmzFvBW0YyMCJ5NGQwa7n3tQQtQDu7SbdvgODaFeAQa9O3jiRcMxMtVpiuKKxjVIiar7HPiG7jIa0lEab-EVeZNTsYF3iW5EhyQ/s320/32_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement680.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Now let’s take this frozen metaphor to the next level because it’s time for an avalanche of change when it comes to human behavior within the living planetary system, and I’m one little snowflake who’s ready to throw his weight around. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNKJWNxkCqhx-nRfGi6jw0HDymv6h9lf1taodyrXSQIg4k15qQYyW6HA24t8YjUdgsGOi82OdVIg9kvB3Ep6o2SsvH-aAactMs3U-Ql9cm-K3u1O0IN6ivRIvAyeogkvbqTeFv48euO4/s1600/39_DSC_0106.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNKJWNxkCqhx-nRfGi6jw0HDymv6h9lf1taodyrXSQIg4k15qQYyW6HA24t8YjUdgsGOi82OdVIg9kvB3Ep6o2SsvH-aAactMs3U-Ql9cm-K3u1O0IN6ivRIvAyeogkvbqTeFv48euO4/s320/39_DSC_0106.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Whenever I improve local habitat by building butterfly gardens, I feel like a hero of global proportions. I know that my work is creating a vital space not just for lovely little butterflies, but for many nations of creatures who have been run out and threatened by industrial living. I’m not alone, and many people of all walks of life are working with the same goals of growing habitat, improving ecosystem health, and ensuring a safe place for us to live. Someday soon an avalanche of change must descend on our way of life.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Since an avalanche can be a bumpy ride, we’d better go ahead and get those butterfly gardens started so at least we’ll have something pretty to distract us along the way. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WINEongy3wOPkkED9d3cPCRIeockKxgHCmgc8Aos6XVpcCfxc7lVBxM-iQDC9eI08FWFdWY3_LcJwvlwNYEsiQpLu9FrxriwlgDlbrcGXA2QEfq18GrDbc5YzOIqV6amAYnsKW1qNyE/s1600/35_DSC_0121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WINEongy3wOPkkED9d3cPCRIeockKxgHCmgc8Aos6XVpcCfxc7lVBxM-iQDC9eI08FWFdWY3_LcJwvlwNYEsiQpLu9FrxriwlgDlbrcGXA2QEfq18GrDbc5YzOIqV6amAYnsKW1qNyE/s320/35_DSC_0121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Butterfly Gardening 101</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R8EXTfcOOhBA4Kot4xnCop-9sr6zGEb0Co8TQwrw9erl6FOO84c80vCkVnmrceJ_ljtvh4kuF8UhxYr6ggpzR99Nmv50ZPNfDojGh2kb2sdiJM_4acZh2U-F7m-DMtOhpzXYtD2R-4Q/s1600/42_DSC_0078.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6R8EXTfcOOhBA4Kot4xnCop-9sr6zGEb0Co8TQwrw9erl6FOO84c80vCkVnmrceJ_ljtvh4kuF8UhxYr6ggpzR99Nmv50ZPNfDojGh2kb2sdiJM_4acZh2U-F7m-DMtOhpzXYtD2R-4Q/s320/42_DSC_0078.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Simply put, if you want to see butterflies, plant native flowers. The most inviting homes for butterflies will have different types of native flowers that bloom and provide nectar all through the growing season. To ensure your yard has more butterflies then the Jones’s next door, also plant some caterpillar host plants. One classic example of a caterpillar host plant is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_syriaca" target="_self">common milkweed</a>, which hosts <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterflies" target="_self">monarch butterflies</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>and seems to grow as freely as the butterfly it hosts. If monarchs are your goal, make sure you also plant <a href="http://www.everwilde.com/store/Liatris-ligulistylis-WildFlower-Seed.html" target="_self">meadow blazingstar</a>, no other nectar-bearing bloomer can make the monarchs line up like this form of Liatris. Monarchs are also strongly attracted to other forms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkweed" target="_self">milkweed</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudbeckia_hirta" target="_self">black eyed susans</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea" target="_self">coneflowers</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernonia" target="_self">ironweed</a>. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYeaEsSvUPS1guV8HM7FIrflApaBV37BG7FJtH9oThO-TF3wTJH0vsGR5AuuKIsdk_wAY6Wz6pTPAnw7YahCupq8Knzp5R9Dm_DeI0JGh3cPbN1n4KQZb0qDJum4JdnvV-AwPxzOavvI/s1600/38_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement686.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYeaEsSvUPS1guV8HM7FIrflApaBV37BG7FJtH9oThO-TF3wTJH0vsGR5AuuKIsdk_wAY6Wz6pTPAnw7YahCupq8Knzp5R9Dm_DeI0JGh3cPbN1n4KQZb0qDJum4JdnvV-AwPxzOavvI/s400/38_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement686.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Why stop at monarchs though when there’s so many wonderful little butterflies out there to see. Variety is the spice of life, and the more types of native plants you have in your yard, the more likely you’ll see rare forms of butterfly. Caterpillar host plants include: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_%28genus%29" target="_self">Artemisia</a>, which is preferred by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Lady" target="_self">Painted Lady</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>caterpillars, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtis" target="_self">Hackberry trees</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>which host many creatures including the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Snout" target="_self">American Snout</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawny_Emperor" target="_self">Tawny Emperor</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>caterpillars while <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_%28plant%29" target="_self">Violets,</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulacaceae" target="_self">Purslane</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedum" target="_self">Sedum</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>which will host the lovely <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variegated_Fritillary" target="_self">Variegated Fritillary</a>. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Many butterflies will have widely varying food sources. Much more then nectar passes the pointed proboscis of our protagonist. Various butterflies will eat everything from leaves and rotting fruit to dead animals and dung. The greater the variety of native plants you grow including trees, shrubs, blooming perennials and ground covers, the more diverse will be your yards selections of foods, and the more the butterflies will flutter by. </b></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0NrghSsP6fzrfBIPUphP-Q6tfgLp_vwu0L-uVptf9l7XbgCrqY5gVUNdo6CK8RcIPL6n6mQ0HoLOCaNxM-7UHgyLEXE6foyexn_3IJj5tsu08Broj7M-5BQ3AXhNLHZKUbj5L2tlVkI/s1600/46_DSC_0205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0NrghSsP6fzrfBIPUphP-Q6tfgLp_vwu0L-uVptf9l7XbgCrqY5gVUNdo6CK8RcIPL6n6mQ0HoLOCaNxM-7UHgyLEXE6foyexn_3IJj5tsu08Broj7M-5BQ3AXhNLHZKUbj5L2tlVkI/s320/46_DSC_0205.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: #23671c; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: #23671c; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <i>A butterflies' beauty is bold and obvious. While other garden bugs may appear to human sensibilities as creepy or scary, they are no less important then the butterflies.</i></span><br />
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<span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: #23671c; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> </span><i><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: #23671c; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">We like the butterflies, are all connected to, and reliant on a living planetary system stocked full of a huge variety of bugs. In order to protect one type of insect like the butterfly, we must protect all of the other insects, plants, and animals that live in the butterflies ecosystem</span>.</span></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<span style="color: #d36100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Hints for Butterfly Beginners:</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCPZFjjuvKkzS4ffrDIoaHq4xr3YeE521tt-VUJs5yGDeDjyGL92t54HhMlE-vOAAk42ELc846Vp9V8WSuHfllEUnn50WuLwPh2Aa9G6EfA_wf1GQUBJZFX4wijg9fLpqUmI5xygiMys/s1600/41_DSC_0066.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCPZFjjuvKkzS4ffrDIoaHq4xr3YeE521tt-VUJs5yGDeDjyGL92t54HhMlE-vOAAk42ELc846Vp9V8WSuHfllEUnn50WuLwPh2Aa9G6EfA_wf1GQUBJZFX4wijg9fLpqUmI5xygiMys/s320/41_DSC_0066.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">1. Good plants from good sources.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><i><b> </b></i></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Locally, the best butterfly plant selections are sold at 3 garden stores. Visit all three, they each have different selections and really cool gardeners on staff. <a href="http://www.landscapealternatives.com/" target="_self">Landscape Alternatives</a>, and <a href="http://www.outbacknursery.com/" target="_self">Outback Nursery</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>are my top stops for butterfly garden plants. Roy at Landscape Alternatives is especially knowledgeable about local butterfly plant selections. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXwMzLeI0dwAW8u3TzLaDy9JJcM9_MfoAYg0cPfzjB-8vhq1Hu1Ettsvrqsmbbw3y1vuE0hCuU8DZXR4AVNp2P0EiqG2_OX_gD2y7T-FRHcc94ayLinb4n0-j4a-T-_Crm7QF3DIU7oI/s1600/43_DSC_0194.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXwMzLeI0dwAW8u3TzLaDy9JJcM9_MfoAYg0cPfzjB-8vhq1Hu1Ettsvrqsmbbw3y1vuE0hCuU8DZXR4AVNp2P0EiqG2_OX_gD2y7T-FRHcc94ayLinb4n0-j4a-T-_Crm7QF3DIU7oI/s320/43_DSC_0194.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>2. Good dirt makes good gardens.</b></i></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM5Orq6MZNry2COkUoSWyGjEqIzFvIRP5u0bqksxKKm-eTdirfF5hi4AY9Cibl29xI2yOItbacml7sON-J8dItxYWym78WDggcZrxRaXBhKTfH8vA7wFCGXTqx4r4QrtuFQhhHDtvldY/s1600/44_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement694.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM5Orq6MZNry2COkUoSWyGjEqIzFvIRP5u0bqksxKKm-eTdirfF5hi4AY9Cibl29xI2yOItbacml7sON-J8dItxYWym78WDggcZrxRaXBhKTfH8vA7wFCGXTqx4r4QrtuFQhhHDtvldY/s400/44_TheSeed40%257E%257Eelement694.jpeg" width="265" /></a><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Ignore the silly rumors that native plants like “starved” soil. I don’t have any idea where or how this rumor got started, but it’s a downright lie. The meadow, prairie, and woodland soils from this region, are some of the richest soils I’ve ever encountered and I’ve checked out dirt around the world. If you want success with your new butterfly garden, before you plant, remove any sod, wood mulch, landscaping fabric, or other impediment to growth, and lay down at least 6 inches of fresh compost (not bagged, never trust a dirt bag), after laying down the compost turn it into the soil with a shovel leaving large chunks of the soil undisturbed. After the compost has been incorporated into the soil, simply cover with more compost till the surface of the garden is smooth and then plant away till your garden is full and your heart is content. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>3. Cover the ground in green.</b></i></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I call this notion “living mulch”. Not only will this practice keep more moisture in your soil, but by shading the ground, it will help ensure that you are packing your space with plenty of plant diversity. Lawn grass doesn’t count. Sod grass lawns provide habitat for neither butterfly, nor bird, nor beast. When designing your yard, plan for as little lawn, and as much garden as possible. If you make the flowers happy, you’ll make the butterflies ecstatic! </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>4. Grow many layers of canopy.</b></i></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>When we build habitat, it’s good to let nature be our guide. Before the Twin Cities existed in this area, there was forest. When we wish to heal the land locally, we need only help recreate the forest. Native trees and shrubs should be included in the plan for any well landscaped twin cities yard. I like to plant meadow plants around and underneath newly establishing trees. Meadows are what the forest uses to recreate itself and fill in the gaps after windfalls and forest fires. Think of our city building and farming practices as being as destructive to the local forests as a fire or tornado, then you can begin to see the amazing amount of repair we need to create in our environment before it will be healthy again. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>5. Never EVER use pesticides or chemical fertilizers.</b></i></span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zSYx_j_bFF3Jtu9fDiGwSRzn5_93vIuML5-R3jo4KEOJM3fSjE_AL_Ku3zTZKs3gzaDKkVbfeAyVdtsdszObl7SSSF9QVctU215OG75CMncXzBwNDt4V4SxRymT0ZCaLG64iPy1ZNeA/s1600/34_DSC_0169.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zSYx_j_bFF3Jtu9fDiGwSRzn5_93vIuML5-R3jo4KEOJM3fSjE_AL_Ku3zTZKs3gzaDKkVbfeAyVdtsdszObl7SSSF9QVctU215OG75CMncXzBwNDt4V4SxRymT0ZCaLG64iPy1ZNeA/s320/34_DSC_0169.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Butterflies are delicate, and we aren’t all that much tougher then them. It doesn’t take much to upset the balance of health in any ecosystem. We’ve already discussed how tiny decisions have big impacts, and this is certainly the case here. Think of butterflies as the canary to your back yard coal mine. If there’s so much poison that delicate butterflies are getting sick, then wake up dummy, so are you. Nature did just fine thank you before we meddling humans came along with our chemical solutions and sprays. The last thing anyone wishing to grow butterflies should want to do is poison their yard with pesticides or chemical fertilizers. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The gentle breeze blown by a butterflies beating wing in your back yard could just be the catalyst for the creation of a current of cultural change in America. Life is funny like that. Little actions in one place can have huge impacts in seemingly unrelated, far away places. A friend of mine once said to me of butterflies “they should be called flutter-byes, that’s what they do”. I couldn’t agree more. Now is the best time to plan a butterfly garden, before the growing season flutters by.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-48270531986349464042010-08-10T14:00:00.000-07:002010-08-10T14:01:03.007-07:00The Seed Volume 39, Eat A Weed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk75knvyb6e4uuIhRtwPSOjaSptJTbdLNV1050pO0v18zHFjD-WADQKCjD0yT2QHheMwNmYaWrkf6D2qWaWSdGYATSVZlwwmSGPl7mJ3_UBihzknENEpvNxwX9e3eTTTt_xYWjdyiSTY/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk75knvyb6e4uuIhRtwPSOjaSptJTbdLNV1050pO0v18zHFjD-WADQKCjD0yT2QHheMwNmYaWrkf6D2qWaWSdGYATSVZlwwmSGPl7mJ3_UBihzknENEpvNxwX9e3eTTTt_xYWjdyiSTY/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" /></a></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeyore" target="_self">Eeyore</a></b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> said it best,</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> “A weed is a flower too, once you get to know it.”</b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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? </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Dandelion is only the </b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Prince" target="_self">Diana Prince</a></b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> like moniker through which the super hero also known as Taraxacum hides her secret </b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman" target="_self">Wonder Woman</a></b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> identity. Providing free nourishing food, and medicine for the masses, offering soil fertility, and perfect plant companionship for tomatoes and other shallow rooted crops, and all of this in a form that is simple, ruggedly beautiful, and completely unstoppable. Sounds like your average garden super-hero job description to me. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I for one think weeds are terrific. I think it’s silly to be terrified of flowers. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gardening is a co-creative process, the gardener and the garden both creating away night and day, each with their own ideas and intentions. As a landscape designer I like to remind myself that humans are far from alone in their desire to alter the world around them to better suit their own needs. Every time a bird in the woods eats a seed and poops it out that little bird increases the population of its favorite foods in the forest. This very humbling notion means that all the high-browed landscape design schools, students, and practitioners are essentially performing the same function that a bird performs when it shits. So while we landscape designers have our notions and practices, the birds, animals, plants, soils, and landscapes have their own notions and practices, which brings me back to weeds. </b></span></div><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Nature uses weeds to perform functions that are often beyond our capacity to easily grasp or even understand at all. I like to point out to folks that in a lawn made of sod grass for instance, our hero the dandelion will drive roots into the earth allowing minerals and nutrients from deep in the ground to be accessed by the shallow rooted turf grass. The channels made in the ground by dandelions roots also help drive water and air downward increasing the overall capacity for root depth and allowing water to enter the water table instead of rushing off to damage local creeks, rivers, or lakes.</b></span><br />
<div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If the garden is like our mother</b></span><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> in how it knows us, nurtures us, punishes us when we deserve it, but loves us unconditionally, then the Earth is like our grandmother. The Earth let’s us do what we wish, and she gives us everything we can need or want, but she knows so much more then we can imagine that we are silly to question her ways. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>When you go back far enough in time, it’s plain to see that the “gardens” of this Earth created the very bloodlines of those who call themselves “gardeners”. From this humble perspective we can rethink what it means to be a weed, and if indeed it may be that the worst, most pernicious weed seeds sprout in our own imaginations. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size10 TrebuchetMS10" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Let us yank from the root the damaging notion that some plants are evil. Let us instead see beauty, life, and nourishment wherever we can, and let’s all celebrate the fact that nature cared enough to give us each other and the rest of the creatures on this lonely planet to keep us happy and healthy.</b></span></div><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed39.html">Click Here to learn about some of the terrific edible and medicinal weeds that grace the presence of our Minneapolis yards and gardens. </a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-90391773503234230822010-08-10T13:51:00.000-07:002011-06-23T13:58:59.078-07:00The Seed Volume 38, Evolutionary Gardening<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC6JHATahgP9ZUSxkFnZsrmkETCeULetq85xIxm2Au5qmUrzY1jeyi4cRa4gRFecgWsYQUZC5rDyVYgy2cXC_POttTtqV76HBNwW6GxQpglKWPtxg56x9R4rs0Ybct2eQxUVzaKx_o1Q/s1600/31_TheSeed38%257E%257Eelement636.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC6JHATahgP9ZUSxkFnZsrmkETCeULetq85xIxm2Au5qmUrzY1jeyi4cRa4gRFecgWsYQUZC5rDyVYgy2cXC_POttTtqV76HBNwW6GxQpglKWPtxg56x9R4rs0Ybct2eQxUVzaKx_o1Q/s320/31_TheSeed38%257E%257Eelement636.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Evolutionary Gardening </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one footstep. </b></span><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>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. If however you asked me to map the evolution of your garden, my response might be a little more mysterious. The map I’d hand you would have nothing but the following question written on it:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size20 TrebuchetMS20" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>“How do you honor your environment?”</i></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>E</b></i></span></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>volution is the process of adapting to change, and work that honors our environment is the best tool we have to help our planet adapt it in these changing times. Truth be told, I can’t tell you how to honor your environment. I’m happy to show you some of my favorite ways to give admiration for Grandmother Earth, but your answers to this tiny question of global proportion will be both as common as our human experience and as unique as our varied personalities. I have been blessed to visit so many great landscapes and gardens in my time, each a unique reflection of the gardeners who created them and the environments where they are growing. In these gardens I’ve seen hundreds of methods and means of achieving healthy harmony in earthen environments. So, while the bad news is that I have no one right way to show you, the good news is that I have seen many right ways that I can share with you, and I can tell you that allowing yourself to change your garden habits in any way that will create healthy habitat for yourself and the local wildlife is an evolutionary concept worthy of praise.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This months newsletter is dedicated to a very old notion with a fancy new name… </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Evolutionary Gardening!</b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><blockquote><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #710f4b;">"The poison and pollution in our environment affects how clearly we see things. We need to use our intelligence and organize our consciousness and our perceptions of reality. This is hard work, but it must be done. </span><span style="color: #b91806;">We are in an evolutionary reality</span><span style="color: #710f4b;">. We are never given something we can't handle. It's about activating the thinking process, about the real value of our ability to think. I say don't believe anything the corporations hand us, whether it is TV, ads or the news as they tell us it is. I am a human, a member of a tribe, not a subject for corporate mining and exploitation. I don't trust their corporate "democracy". We humans must think for ourselves. That's what we need to give to the next generation."</span></span></span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i><a href="http://sisis.nativeweb.org/sov/trudbari.html" target="_self"><span style="color: #710f4b;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">~John Trudell</span></span></a></i></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br />
</i></div><div align="RIGHT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #710f4b;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"We must go beyond the arrogance of human rights. We must go beyond the ignorance of civil rights. We must step into the reality of natural rights because all of the natural world has a right to existence and we are only a small part of it. There can be no trade-off."</span></span></i></div><div align="RIGHT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="RIGHT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><a href="http://www.johntrudell.com/" target="_self"><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">~ John Trudell</span></span></a></i></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br />
</i></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #6c4687;">“</span><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's about our D and A. Descendants and ancestors. We are the descendants and we are the ancestors. D and A, our DNA, our blood, our flesh and our bone, is made up of the metals and the minerals and the liquids of the earth. We are the earth. We truly, literally and figuratively are the earth. Any relationship we will ever have in this world to real power -- the real power, not energy systems and other artificial means of authority -- but any relationship we will ever have to real power is our relationship to the earth.” </span></span></i></div><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;"><i><span style="color: #6c4687;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rainbowbody.net/Ongwhehonwhe/Trudellstick.htm" target="_self">~ John Trudell</a></span></span></i></div></blockquote><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Evolutionary Landscaping</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDk33YKja_uCyFL_ZsEc4-MJfJaXbYQSyq0dYMCiDzk3WbZPgGMWEgpxKaP9ZC1cUcflOUhr14PkBO-4ZHMdxQQd6hkQoNkU4jtC17shuVxqpRa7YkKQeAL4KJjokGU6VJ8iWzSybs4g/s1600/40_DSC_0015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/HowToSeedBomb.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GlK9Q5GARbJTShz-LzDYZf7Rdv67DqlriXYiMr9T9WU0PzKaDjv34BfPevzdmmGlr5xoKX5nsgMFTcqcJjJ19W8WVnbXIhBfve-cOmp55-WJGmRa_1x4ZmEszpxCD7bF1FiICJWg0JY/s320/30_TheSeed38%257E%257Eelement635.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Charles Darwin tells us that “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change”</span></span><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Well folks, change seems to be knocking at the door to humanity demanding it’s way in. Between changing economies, climate change, and changing social values, our species is facing a paradigm shift so drastic in scope that every living human culture has begun preparing for a different tomorrow. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/HowToSeedBomb.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw5RSPED0UAtYvJA9Zzsrnh_3Frn1hkCKGBlNXTmFv9fUrffGFMF0TyDX0Wjyt25fDJ52xk7cORKDguiGq3Gb-57sispur-A8kQySc-Xxbt4OWef1sKB82sCLsEZ1ua4giiV9XVFOZ8w/s320/32_TheSeed38%257E%257Eelement653.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Maybe you’ll agree that within only a few hundred years of industrialization, we’ve done an incredible amount of devastation to our delicate home. Our warring cultures demands for efficiency has lead to an attempted homogenization of natural human processes throughout the planet. Here in America industry gives us food and water, and industry carries away our waste. Industry helps us birth our babies, raise our children, store our wealth, wed our lovers, occupy our adults, hospice our elders, and burry our dead. All of these interactions have been designed by the industries offering them to take wealth and power away from the folks who purchase their products and services and put that power into the hands of industrial leaders in the form of money and brand devotion. All of these interactions also represent a sort of degeneration instead of the evolution we’re gonna need to undergo to keep our species kickin’ around on this planet we call home. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYCOI-q-y6JTHGPhJztjFVEJhhFLZ0_caLxnP1fn4wpJoprcURLnFAwQi_tGsp616xfKYfxxnJjQecTt6kcjLN70zaFBrNuu6XhrXXmQ8nVutWfledHFuk9BSWe-8zC6mi2EHvXcyhMw/s1600/33_DSC_0514.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYCOI-q-y6JTHGPhJztjFVEJhhFLZ0_caLxnP1fn4wpJoprcURLnFAwQi_tGsp616xfKYfxxnJjQecTt6kcjLN70zaFBrNuu6XhrXXmQ8nVutWfledHFuk9BSWe-8zC6mi2EHvXcyhMw/s320/33_DSC_0514.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Now it might strike some readers that here, the owner of a company offering landscaping services is essentially telling folks to stop shopping. I suppose I have a slightly different view of landscaping then most others in the trade. Giving Tree Gardens seeks at all turns to empower community, clients, and anyone that will listen with the knowledge, resources, and methods that will help them engage with and honor their world a little bit more. We offer services to those without the time or ability to do the work themselves, while encouraging a do-it-yourself mentality through our various forms of consultation, our community classes, as well as our newsletter, blog, and website.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Inspiration is among our most precious resources. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<div style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/HowToRainBarrel.html">Rain Barrels are a highly evolved idea! Click here to find out more about rain barrels!</a></i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-NdIx3NnqiwrgM1z3sCcpLWYp_alzzdH-TjtsfaTcFpvBSRYtQHqlnbCaUJuN9lgWEOXL8yZsdY1bXB_RfoyxC2NhZ9_wWFCwOH4lr6FGXAukSU9YpOb386vz8MBa-W6rhtP0QoziVg/s1600/34_DSC_0166.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-NdIx3NnqiwrgM1z3sCcpLWYp_alzzdH-TjtsfaTcFpvBSRYtQHqlnbCaUJuN9lgWEOXL8yZsdY1bXB_RfoyxC2NhZ9_wWFCwOH4lr6FGXAukSU9YpOb386vz8MBa-W6rhtP0QoziVg/s320/34_DSC_0166.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><a href="http://www.johntrudell.com/" target="_self"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>John Trudell</b></span></span></a><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>is one abundant source evolutionary inspiration. Mr. Trudell is a brilliant author and public speaker. Perhaps the most striking thing I heard him say while he gave a speech in Minneapolis a couple years back touched on the concept of revolution vs. evolution. John shared the notion that revolution based on the word “revolve” will only get us back where we started just as the Earth finds itself back in the same spot every new year. He said that we should become evolutionary instead of revolutionary. He helped me understand that if we are to move on beyond our problems, we must do the changing because our problems won’t just change for us. So what kind of changes should we make in our landscaping habits? Sure I’ve got some ideas for you, <a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/EvolutionaryContact.html" target="_self">but I wanna hear your ideas too.</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><br />
<div style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/TheSeed35.html">Worms are fun, gross, and good for the earth! Click here to find out more! </a></i></span></div><div style="color: lime;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkSfcJ4BeVfgYHWUZ0nIecFWDk8CoVvgO3tTLlxfMBjaFx0apKGR5SdqjpcEoyahFutXmQe-QAZxygf2cBWvvVuUvX_k5iWdT8X-BISH2D7BoDr4O2Jbp5I1plwU7ZLHQJb1UAhDUx3o/s1600/35_DSC_0352.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkSfcJ4BeVfgYHWUZ0nIecFWDk8CoVvgO3tTLlxfMBjaFx0apKGR5SdqjpcEoyahFutXmQe-QAZxygf2cBWvvVuUvX_k5iWdT8X-BISH2D7BoDr4O2Jbp5I1plwU7ZLHQJb1UAhDUx3o/s320/35_DSC_0352.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>The full answer to the question of how do we all honor our environment together will only be found when we all explore together a few more basic questions.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Who am I?, Where am I?, and What am I doing here?</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Who Am I?</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This question is important because who you are informs your needs, and your environment should be able to provide your needs. The answers to this question include things like your ancestry, community, tastes, family, point of view, relationships, age, personality and more. To take a step further into the landscape we begin asking questions such as: What plants are culturally relevant to you? How have your ancestors traditionally raised or gathered food? What are your favorite flowers? These questions and many more will begin to show us what we need from our environments, and the next question will begin to show us how those needs may be met.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20YNnjlw2YX1pHXQArn3taKB5A7PLxZdm_JXpxTYwF-tuPfBtkoyKjpqgeR2kz0PjH5wdTptXNx941ASHE7uax_dGC3OQz1ZBtMytGMzJn5Ax8XfaxCWvkAHGe5qhjAB26jg0ijH2GrI/s1600/36_DSC_0597.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20YNnjlw2YX1pHXQArn3taKB5A7PLxZdm_JXpxTYwF-tuPfBtkoyKjpqgeR2kz0PjH5wdTptXNx941ASHE7uax_dGC3OQz1ZBtMytGMzJn5Ax8XfaxCWvkAHGe5qhjAB26jg0ijH2GrI/s320/36_DSC_0597.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #d36100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Where Am I? </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I love this question. My answer to this question begins with one well-annunciated word. America! I see such a heavy European influence in the local landscape from sod grass lawns to man made ponds to parking lots and freeways, that I find myself often needing to remind folks that indeed we are in America, and that if we are to honor this place so that it may support us, we should recognize the needs of the land beneath our feet. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Every place has plants that are native to it. Here in America, native plants fed wildlife and people for millennia before the conquistadors, pioneers, and settlers (some my ancestors) invaded this land and started causing widespread damage here. If these American plants fed folks for such a long time, why shouldn’t we who call ourselves Americans eat them again? What are the native plants in your region? What are the uses of these plants for you and the native wildlife? To honor your space you must know, respect, and support the life that was there before you arrived. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeo6SLAR2W-57PosRmWwzCn5oVDXC3RxBym3N9Jwn-aC9SVX91VZkkdoOx4INKx1-E3bpbV-Iw9z_U5Pwop5Zogx1SjtXO-nswMusmvNmSfiNhZnUaphxvPZvN7GD4OaKxHwakg0loTQ/s1600/37_DSC_0271.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeo6SLAR2W-57PosRmWwzCn5oVDXC3RxBym3N9Jwn-aC9SVX91VZkkdoOx4INKx1-E3bpbV-Iw9z_U5Pwop5Zogx1SjtXO-nswMusmvNmSfiNhZnUaphxvPZvN7GD4OaKxHwakg0loTQ/s320/37_DSC_0271.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #d36100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What Am I Doing Here?</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Just what are you doing here? This is a pretty big question. We spend our days and nights eating, working, traveling, visiting, sleeping, purchasing, communicating, any number of normal and abnormal human activities fill our time. Just what are these activities? Are they good for this space? Do our actions honor our environment? </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Every one of our actions impacts our environment. Some of our actions have a positive impact in our environs, some much less so. What are the local, regional, and global environmental impacts of some of your landscaping decisions? Are the plants that are culturally relevant to you able to live here without damaging this space? Are you able to live here without damaging this space? How can you do what you need to do and still live in harmony with the land around you?</b></span></span><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmckirYIptmyWrfGpax1mHwtXiac4PrgYPrWEsj6_4PnVGPUkledrX3ldAPQEtuua4q7gILgNmgl2WEu0ismvlsiYby4sFI1odpFOs6vjSJG86bNi-tBmywZ_u-up5dzQO0Bsb49bpTaM/s1600/38_DSC_0390.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmckirYIptmyWrfGpax1mHwtXiac4PrgYPrWEsj6_4PnVGPUkledrX3ldAPQEtuua4q7gILgNmgl2WEu0ismvlsiYby4sFI1odpFOs6vjSJG86bNi-tBmywZ_u-up5dzQO0Bsb49bpTaM/s320/38_DSC_0390.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A rain garden can filter rainwater to recharge aquifers that we all drink from, growing even just tomatoes at home can reduce the amount of petroleum it takes to make your meals, and native tree plantings can support migrating wildlife from around the globe, these are all small, locally made decisions that have profound positive impacts in the larger ecosystem. So what are you doing here?, and what are the impacts of the actions you make? Are you acting with honor towards this place that supports you? </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Inspirational sources abound in this world. A friend and former neighbor Bob Milner</b></span></span><span style="color: #633100;"> </span><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>is yet another inspiring mentor in my life. Bob is a marketing wizard and a community activist since….., well he may have invented marketing and community activism, but Bob and I were sitting and chatting marketing strategies one afternoon when he turns to me and says, </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;">“<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Russ I want to give you something, ……Evolutionary Gardening, that’s what you’re doing, that’s what you should call it, you should trademark this idea, it’s yours, I’m giving it to you”. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XMkdc_mMOcQyQNMig2iA58ZcuD0n0WRm9osqVAewKZaCuZtwZC8mpQ14qb32AFOXz5Gx-38uiXIXwpopMycWdHiJGE-zpVK01qzT9pz1_oy7NhwR54yWqyCWGhSfOXcWkMAAx6ss5qA/s1600/39_DSC_0603.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XMkdc_mMOcQyQNMig2iA58ZcuD0n0WRm9osqVAewKZaCuZtwZC8mpQ14qb32AFOXz5Gx-38uiXIXwpopMycWdHiJGE-zpVK01qzT9pz1_oy7NhwR54yWqyCWGhSfOXcWkMAAx6ss5qA/s320/39_DSC_0603.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>In honor of Bob, and his really good idea, I’m happy to go ahead then and tell the world what I think it means to be an “Evolutionary Gardener” as he so eloquently put it. I’m probably not going to go for the trademark though, I just can’t find it in me take any credit for a process as old as time. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
<span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>If you click on any of the pictures on the side of the page, you’ll be shown some of my favorite do-it-yourself methods for evolving your own yard and landscape. I love these particular methods because of their simplicity. I suppose simplicity is important because evolution is the process of tiny, simple changes one after another working together to create harmony. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDk33YKja_uCyFL_ZsEc4-MJfJaXbYQSyq0dYMCiDzk3WbZPgGMWEgpxKaP9ZC1cUcflOUhr14PkBO-4ZHMdxQQd6hkQoNkU4jtC17shuVxqpRa7YkKQeAL4KJjokGU6VJ8iWzSybs4g/s1600/40_DSC_0015.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDk33YKja_uCyFL_ZsEc4-MJfJaXbYQSyq0dYMCiDzk3WbZPgGMWEgpxKaP9ZC1cUcflOUhr14PkBO-4ZHMdxQQd6hkQoNkU4jtC17shuVxqpRa7YkKQeAL4KJjokGU6VJ8iWzSybs4g/s320/40_DSC_0015.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="color: #633100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>With so much change in the forecast, I’m ready to do my part to make allies, share ideas, and develop the bonds of community that will help this land that I love so much, thrive in the face of change. By honoring our environments we honor ourselves, so my question to you now is, How do you honor your environment? </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-48070834769215820762010-04-30T07:49:00.000-07:002010-04-30T07:52:36.865-07:00In Love With The Garden<span style="background-color: lime;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCB2kO4OW5jzuYNYNQ-K2z60yOsHjhRIWqchhrfrOuLlx4AWwr6452dPfYweLt2K5tliaqtHug537_AHBw06YPgjyXPrP49s1CeiGWemEk_7hsRZsTkE7ZVGkut6Gyov_aygY4UXgEc9E/s320/DSC_0085.JPG" /></div><div style="background-color: white;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white;"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It’s so easy to fall in love with a garden. </b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Imagine your garden as a new friend. You start off tentatively getting to know one another. Happy moments turn into beautiful days and soon enough you are greeting each other with gifts. A little help from a friend is always welcome, but with this relationship it seems all the gifts you give just pale in comparison to the gifts that are so generously given back. You see how potent this is, and more then a little entranced, you start to give all that you can afford; your time, your love, your thoughtfulness, but your new friend just gives ever more, ever more, and always with astonishingly benevolent humility and grace. Any remaining doubts and uncertainties vanish, replaced by genuine interactions that always leave you feeling so lucky, so well loved, and nurtured to your very soul. </b></span></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>To put it’ in Minnesota terms, That’s a keeper! Darn near anybody would want a relationship like that. But the question is, do we all get to have this kind of experience?</b></span></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Despite the handy fact that every bit of our food is ultimately sourced from a farm, a garden, or a natural environment, for some folks, falling in love with the landscape might as well be a few lifetimes away. </b></span></div><div align="justify" style="background-color: white;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>So, it would seem that while not every soul is blessed with this capacity to love a garden, we could all learn a thing or two from those who do. </b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://fieldgreens.blogspot.com/" target="_self">Sarah Greenfield</a></b></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> is one of these lucky, loving gardeners who help inform the world. Talking with Sarah I always learn so much from her that improves my own gardening hobbies. </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sarah’s the kind of gardener that shines a little bit when she’s showing off her sprouted seeds. I think that shine must come from the warmth in her heart that she feels for her garden space. Click below to learn more about Sarah’s gardens and the food, flowers, and love that grows in them! </b></span><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed37.html">CLICK HERE to read The Seed #37, In Love With The Garden </a></b></span></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-75052713985429564312010-04-05T19:14:00.000-07:002010-04-05T19:16:32.657-07:00Vegetable Gardening Class Video<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcyoBD6Jc4bd6OnaWh7foNh4kw6wC7SiWTKH9Qf-TQKI726RMUvEKcQiX-1kCZ4raA8ifBJv7v-KIUR9Zf5rZGUXHz9oLrwN6ZsNQ-ucmzoBh4cLwnbbGVbggOjlbxF3TX0RjDJkSjOs/s400/DSC_0161.JPG" width="266" /></div><br />
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<b style="color: #38761d;">H</b><b style="color: #38761d;">ave a look at this <span style="color: orange;">organic gardening</span> video discussion hosted by the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Longfellow Community Council </span>in <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Minneapolis Minnesota. </span> We had a great time talking organic gardens, <span style="color: orange;">Earth-friendly</span> landscaping, and community empowerment! Click the link below to watch this fun video.</b><br />
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<a href="http://mediamill.cla.umn.edu/mediamill/embed/65882">http://mediamill.cla.umn.edu/mediamill/embed/65882</a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-55883469533059506232010-02-23T16:43:00.000-08:002010-02-23T16:43:30.455-08:00Worms Go To School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzdPtgcb_AZ7JX9gPHRhbti0hDcCiBjXIBWsRaRhXSXkwPfeP_RtHyFEZ9qa9wkwkVLlC1srbSeW45xogzf452iqUP18g-CLJ4NMsaoYwCJ32-XuvbUO_LpicI6TbZ28VTj_S5-oclt4/s1600-h/DSC_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzdPtgcb_AZ7JX9gPHRhbti0hDcCiBjXIBWsRaRhXSXkwPfeP_RtHyFEZ9qa9wkwkVLlC1srbSeW45xogzf452iqUP18g-CLJ4NMsaoYwCJ32-XuvbUO_LpicI6TbZ28VTj_S5-oclt4/s320/DSC_0094.JPG" /></a></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: lime;">Worms Go To School!</span></span> </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Worms eat our food scraps and leave compost in the soil. Compost feeds the plants and the plants feed us. This winter the pre-schoolers at Anishinabe Academy in South Minneapolis are learning how this simple and respectful cycle works by growing worms fed with the kids own food scraps right in their classroom. While children at Anishinabe are learning in class about worms, soil, seeds, plants, food, and health, a team of energized, organized grown-ups from the school and community are learning how to grow opportunities for the kids to get their hands dirty in the garden. </b></span></div><div align="justify"><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I’m not sure if worms can smile, but I smile when I think about kids learning how to empower their health, respect their environment, and sustain their culture. The 7th Generation Garden Design Circle has taken root at Anishinabe in order to nurture these wonderful ideas and grow them into a verdant garden of opportunities for the children, families, and staff of the school. Through the development of curriculum based on native culture, nutrition, Earth-friendly gardening practices, restorative justice, and compost heaps of fun, the 7th Generation gardeners are growing awareness, community, and happy kids!</b></span></div><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This volume of The Seed is dedicated to the Ojibwe and Dakota High-5 language classes at Anishinabe Academy. Thanks to the super smart kids and teachers in these classes, worms are doing their wiggly work to slime through the grime and turn garbage into garden gold! May the seeds they plant grow into a community of opportunity!</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed35.html"><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>CLICK HERE to read The Seed #35, Worms Go To School! </b></span></a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-40834765803952504472010-01-21T14:19:00.000-08:002010-01-21T14:19:04.164-08:00The Seed Volume 34, Compost Growing Community<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABJIY6D2NN2CMvTLlCgIVszFmRPVPRqIvo7koSeELOvVPImboL3K5WwWEU_cg9mi5jStXnrKz2mWbUpJc7691pfyyUBQ4h-jAA-T4_mqhLyMjB1AYvA7SibxnBJmbqipHJF4BEuQjOKk/s1600-h/DSC_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABJIY6D2NN2CMvTLlCgIVszFmRPVPRqIvo7koSeELOvVPImboL3K5WwWEU_cg9mi5jStXnrKz2mWbUpJc7691pfyyUBQ4h-jAA-T4_mqhLyMjB1AYvA7SibxnBJmbqipHJF4BEuQjOKk/s320/DSC_0166.JPG" /><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></a><br />
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<div align="justify"><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> In recent month’s we at Giving Tree Gardens have witnessed and helped facilitate an environmentally sound change in the way a few Minneapolis organizations view the waste they create. Almost every group or organization of folks has the potential to begin producing compost for use in urban farms as well as home and community gardens. Wherever people gather, they eat, and wherever people eat, they produce food scraps. While some organizations can put their food scraps to use on-site in their own compost bins, others turn their compostables over to </b></span><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/ContactCompostDonation.html" target="_self">local urban farms</a></b></span><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> that are actively seeking food scrap donations for mass compost production. </b><br />
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</div><div align="justify"><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> This month’s volume of The Seed is dedicated to giving organizations on the verge of change a how-to guide for dealing with their food waste in an environmentally wise way. Read below for a list of green resources for employees and volunteers looking to guide their organization toward a healthier tomorrow, as well as step-by-step guide to building a low-budget, community enhancing compost bin.</b></span><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed34.html"><span style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>CLICK HERE to read The Seed #34, Compost Growing Community! </b></span></a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-44289034823939386862010-01-06T14:43:00.000-08:002010-01-06T14:58:38.695-08:00Giving Tree Gardens Expands Archives!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL1LxNdv7iVgGT5N39HGT-py5KAnpjPGHVSU_hzlW6pWtMiscaPBfgGNXtqjMO2eosPTskGZgYvXu5Iej9NhG1YiKG1aQGFKCzqt1Hyc7o-Vh9u-bxkSoSm4HMhdMH5V7sqqFyCyuwBM/s1600-h/DSC_0449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL1LxNdv7iVgGT5N39HGT-py5KAnpjPGHVSU_hzlW6pWtMiscaPBfgGNXtqjMO2eosPTskGZgYvXu5Iej9NhG1YiKG1aQGFKCzqt1Hyc7o-Vh9u-bxkSoSm4HMhdMH5V7sqqFyCyuwBM/s320/DSC_0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423762864874217074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); text-align: left;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Giving Tree Gardens </span>would like to welcome in the new year with a gift to all the gardening world! </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our newsletter, "The Seed" is nearly 3 years old, and with 33 informative issues currently in our archives, we thought it high time to make the archives a little more accessible. Visit our <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />new expanded archives</span> to learn everything you want to know about organic gardening and Earth-friendly landscaping!</span><br /></span></div><br /><br />CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE NEW EXPANDED ARCHIVES!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeedArchives.html"><span style="color: rgb(134, 88, 2);font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" ><b><br />CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SEED ARCHIVES </b></span></a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-32800300894499821552009-12-21T13:21:00.000-08:002011-06-03T02:29:24.626-07:00The Seed Volume 33, Garden Tool Review!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8qmDHsDera8L8-hQulfofX4dcydgzRd7JPGh9LHTvKs2xjMJjkREm4jer2TJwdLKvJ5zVL_t4SSsM9Qmyn0RAWBU6k3XNsovWd6f6KHO6bcaWqfChow697hzuLTK_SrPAGQ4Ud0aF_s/s1600-h/IMG_0309.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417804040907592178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8qmDHsDera8L8-hQulfofX4dcydgzRd7JPGh9LHTvKs2xjMJjkREm4jer2TJwdLKvJ5zVL_t4SSsM9Qmyn0RAWBU6k3XNsovWd6f6KHO6bcaWqfChow697hzuLTK_SrPAGQ4Ud0aF_s/s400/IMG_0309.JPG" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Toolin' Around</b></span></span></u></div><br />
<i><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Give a boy an apple and he will eat for a few minutes, </span><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: large;">teach him to garden and he will eat well his whole life! </span><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When we teach our kids about organic gardening we give them the tools to build a healthy future!"</span></i><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>While it’s true that a determined gardener can do more with a rusty shovel then a lazy gardener can with a whole shed full of tools, it’s also true that when given the right tools for the job, determined gardeners are unstoppable. Coming across a tool that makes my work easier is like meeting a new friend, I’ll often find myself wondering how I ever got along without them. </b><br />
</span></div><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> The blanket of snow adorning our fair cities gives northern gardeners time for reflection on the seasons’ success and lessons so that we may continue profusely sharing our profound passions. In this spirit of sharing, Giving Tree Gardens would like to present this years cream of the crop from the world of garden tools. This month’s volume of The Seed celebrates with all our gardening friends a few of the handy tools that helped us achieve this season's garden accomplishments. </b></span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Talkin' Tools! A Few of my Favorite Things...</span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaryRzb3Ey_fzB3-t-Kx8EV8yttPpPhy3xT3cJnZ2oGa55iC_IOLvTjKftQ7m4Z4B8x3UzJrPvUxIilQnuTjVNaUT4pt3GnWxmHk9cvehEcKsiJOwm6GKgjQ4xMrmddR4O9S8gleBFpY/s1600/21_P1010017.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaryRzb3Ey_fzB3-t-Kx8EV8yttPpPhy3xT3cJnZ2oGa55iC_IOLvTjKftQ7m4Z4B8x3UzJrPvUxIilQnuTjVNaUT4pt3GnWxmHk9cvehEcKsiJOwm6GKgjQ4xMrmddR4O9S8gleBFpY/s400/21_P1010017.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having the right tools for the job makes life so much easier!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Sod Cutter</b></span></span></div><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Never do I feel like more of a superhero as when I brandish my freshly sharpened </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=312" target="_self">sod cutter</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and peel away at sheet after sheet of useless boring sod grass. I’m fond of telling folks new to using a sod cutter that this is one implement that turns a man into a mule. Though gasoline powered versions of this fantastic tool are available for rent or purchase locally, there’s nothing quite as satisfying to a gardener as using one’s own power and strength to cause a healthy landscape makeover to occur. Reddy Rents on Hiawatha is the spot to find both the human and petroleum powered versions of this fine tool. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyjtvFI1atKsjCvqFyCSNLlCYR2mgRlITvJcd5pzjfNZPjnn_b4KwkvgOQnZlCS69f-kaSMKwilGNEvowBkVSgQwfSMLmXydtVLSYxw1CCl_WproHH3g-LUSJ4lkWgWJPOvdc_VsNIo/s1600/18_topdress1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyjtvFI1atKsjCvqFyCSNLlCYR2mgRlITvJcd5pzjfNZPjnn_b4KwkvgOQnZlCS69f-kaSMKwilGNEvowBkVSgQwfSMLmXydtVLSYxw1CCl_WproHH3g-LUSJ4lkWgWJPOvdc_VsNIo/s320/18_topdress1.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Utilikilt!</b></span></span><br />
</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><i><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">"The </span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.utilikilts.com/" target="_self">Utilikilt</a></b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> offers a man freedom, comfort, and rugged durability, not to mention a nice fresh breeze through the hot summer work days. Hard working guys need to treat their tools with care, the Utilikilt is here to help!</span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">" </span></i><br />
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</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Freedom grows in this gardener’s gardens. Freedom to eat healthy food, freedom to enjoy nature, and freedom to know that I’m treating the environment with respect and love are just a few of my gardens gifts. With all this freedom flowing from the garden growth, it’s only appropriate that the gardener himself feels as free. </span></div><br />
<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.utilikilts.com/" target="_self">Utilikilts</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> is a Seattle based company that brings freedom to men everywhere. As soon as I donned my first Utilikilt, I knew I was in love. I’ve never had an easier time jumping in and out of my truck bed, stretching through the garden for those hard to reach weeds, or attracting attention from passers by. Folks seem either impressed or surprised to see a hairy burly man, proudly wearing a tough looking skirt through the city. I couldn’t have guessed at the marketing power of the kilt, but after handing out hundreds of business cards to folks who approach me because of the kilts, I’ve become a firm believer. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMctczoxnXgowLn2adTOo8zFXcuP4okeTnVJEqIaz0hFJloooq146U2S8alD1EBbb6Ic-wb_scX5-MFRMGMeeFQR-ccZQOvuNjapYrS__4CXj1O8h_OBzewQ5LOwvtqGvF1D2igi8bEHI/s1600/23_wrench.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMctczoxnXgowLn2adTOo8zFXcuP4okeTnVJEqIaz0hFJloooq146U2S8alD1EBbb6Ic-wb_scX5-MFRMGMeeFQR-ccZQOvuNjapYrS__4CXj1O8h_OBzewQ5LOwvtqGvF1D2igi8bEHI/s320/23_wrench.gif" width="229" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Weed Wrench</b></span></span></div><br />
<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> Perhaps the greatest time saving tool I’ve ever found, The </span></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.weedwrench.com/" target="_self">Weed Wrench</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">is less a miracle of modern engineering then an ancient, time tested design improved through the strength of hardened steel.</span> </span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> A little leverage goes a long way could be the work song chorus of anyone bearing this tool. Simply clamp the vice like metal jaws around the base of any weed tree you’d like to remove then lean back and let the 6 foot metal pry bar do the hard work. I remove a lot of buckthorn from Twin Cities properties, and <b>this tool cuts a 2 hour tree removal down to 5 minutes.</b> The Weed Wrench is worth it’s weight in gold, and from it’s price you might think that it’s made of gold. If however you’ve got a whole mess of buckthorn trees in the back 40, then this tool will quickly pay for itself in saved time and back pain. Check with </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.reddyrents.com/" target="_self">Reddy Rents</a></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> in the early winter months to see if they’ve got any slightly used Weed Wrenches for sale. You’ll save a good chunk of change and the Weed Wrench is so strongly made that even well used tools will still have decades of life in them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I like this tool so much, I made an instructional video! </span><br />
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<span class="size18 TrebuchetMS18" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Felco #2 Pruning Shears</b></span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZiAx4ldDh2xfIW4AmrH4UbVXz7f858gN0B_R1SUQ2Pz84lXftAKG-BO8MTjziUJshMfIWP32D1qYMFN_-uIAzZJfftIpoB8j5GnLSyQK08qW5-OSZXtCM6ReGVH5iR2YhKD8qscNtMU/s1600/25_Felco_2_secateurs_op_632x632.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZiAx4ldDh2xfIW4AmrH4UbVXz7f858gN0B_R1SUQ2Pz84lXftAKG-BO8MTjziUJshMfIWP32D1qYMFN_-uIAzZJfftIpoB8j5GnLSyQK08qW5-OSZXtCM6ReGVH5iR2YhKD8qscNtMU/s320/25_Felco_2_secateurs_op_632x632.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="size14 TrebuchetMS14" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I never go anywhere without my Felco # 2 Pruning Shear. These are the handiest and sturdiest cutting tool I've ever owned, this garden helper will hopefully become a family heirloom.</b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Let me help you cut through the crap. Using a poorly working pruning sheer can wreak havoc on your woody garden plants, and frustrate the heck out of any busy spring gardener. The best pruning tools on the market are made by </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.felcostore.com/order/f2?referer=pruners" target="_self">Felco</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">. Their designs have blades that can be sharpened and replaced, steel springs that can be easily removed for cleaning, and they have slickest by-pass anvil design available. Of all the Felco products, the Felco #2 is my faithful companion. <b>Every time I slide this tool out of it’s belt bound leather holster I trust that the branches I remove will be cut cleanly and without crushing.</b> This is a great tool that every gardener would love to find in their holiday stocking. Felco tools can be found at any reputable</span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> local retailer of garden tools and supplies.</span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Toughest Wheelbarrow in Town!</span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9rcWt1z7rwH6bAbewSmA-6MzRciQ-7U4Kw4Y5G03DW9Cmy1eLfCv5z4tLfvfxj65aWpDCMBtqO852Nb4Wf0U0urpjqZ52m1RIoePMExAern40zwPRXFEgDSzXCi9AhGRYzO8O50snAk/s1600/26_soilmix1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9rcWt1z7rwH6bAbewSmA-6MzRciQ-7U4Kw4Y5G03DW9Cmy1eLfCv5z4tLfvfxj65aWpDCMBtqO852Nb4Wf0U0urpjqZ52m1RIoePMExAern40zwPRXFEgDSzXCi9AhGRYzO8O50snAk/s320/26_soilmix1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>At Giving Tree Gardens we need the toughest wheel barrows around, and there's none we've seen tougher then the Brentwood Industries <i>Pro-Boss</i>. This barrow is a real mover and shaker with it's structural steel chassis and hardwood handles.</b></span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the battle for the better barrow my 6 cubic foot </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.brentwoodindustries.com/spg/store/ProBoss-OSCAR_387.aspx" target="_self">Brentwood Industries Pro-Boss </a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">model is by far the best of the bunch. Before I met this beastly bucket on wheels, I was sure that I’d be buying a new wheelbarrow annually because of the abuse that I bestow upon them. This well designed wheelbarrow has thick steel legs and a larger then average hard plastic basin that won’t rust out. I fill my wheelbarrows with the roughest stuff, broken concrete, bricks, rocks, and sand, and I barely notice the wear and tear on this workhorse. Available locally at </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/Kliers.Nursery.And.Garden.Center.612-866-8771" target="_self">Klier’s Nursery</a></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, I’d recommend anyone considering a new wheelbarrow stop by to give this one a test drive. </span><br />
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<span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A gardener’s work is truly never done</span>, so we might as well equip ourselves with the tools that make our work go as smoothly as possible. </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.motherearthgarden.com/" target="_self">Mother Earth Gardens</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.reddyrents.com/" target="_self">Reddy Rents</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">, and </span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/Kliers.Nursery.And.Garden.Center.612-866-8771" target="_self">Klier’s Nursery</a></b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> are a few local stores that work hard to offer us the equipment that can make our green-guided lives a little easier. </span><br />
<div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #633100; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <b> Any tool is only as useful as the hand that holds it</b>, and our towns are chock full of hard working hands. If you’ve got a gardener in your life, consider giving one of these fine tools as a gift this year. After all, outfitting a gardener with good tools will likely pay off with healthy, beautiful rewards for years to come. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv9kMl3O0Su4F0vLkpvn_DVWgh6Nyak5bp6zXQapzmKnoWJr4Z_R1QsX4s8PTdunKB9NBUlaz6lALQGKZxKxVV59_QD-5wxsNnTOqvmJ4yhzYTiSsLuaQe0QYls10oT7pqo65gpiC0GE/s1600/22_DSC_0031.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv9kMl3O0Su4F0vLkpvn_DVWgh6Nyak5bp6zXQapzmKnoWJr4Z_R1QsX4s8PTdunKB9NBUlaz6lALQGKZxKxVV59_QD-5wxsNnTOqvmJ4yhzYTiSsLuaQe0QYls10oT7pqo65gpiC0GE/s320/22_DSC_0031.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="size12 Helvetica12" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;"><b>These young fellas hold the tools that will be used to build the future. With the huge environmental challenges ahead we need to make sure and leave our kids with the best tools possible. Organic gardening knowledge is absolutely one of the strongest tools that we have to gift to our children. </b></span><span class="size16 TrebuchetMS16" style="color: #865802; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
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<span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #710f4b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>“Anything you can do needs to be done, so pick up the tool of your choice and get started”</b></span><br />
<div align="left"><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #710f4b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~</b></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #710f4b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Linder" target="_self">Ben Linder</a></b></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size14 Garamond14" style="color: #6c4687; font-family: Garamond,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span class="size14 Garamond14" style="color: #6c4687; font-family: Garamond,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> "When the only tool you have is a hammer,</span></div><div align="left"><span class="size14 Garamond14" style="color: #6c4687; font-family: Garamond,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">you tend to see every problem as a nail."</span></div><div align="left"><span class="size14 Garamond14" style="color: #6c4687; font-family: Garamond,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">~ </span><span class="size14 Garamond14" style="color: #6c4687; font-family: Garamond,'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow" target="_self">Abraham Maslow</a></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size12 Tahoma12" style="color: #633100; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div align="left"><span class="size12 Tahoma12" style="color: #633100; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> <span style="font-size: large;">"A worker may be the hammer's master, but the hammer still prevails. A tool knows exactly how it is meant to be handled, while the user of the tool can only have an approximate idea."</span></b></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size12 Tahoma12" style="color: #633100; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>~</b></span><span class="size12 Tahoma12" style="color: #633100; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Kundera" target="_self">Milan Kundera </a></b></span></div><div align="left"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="size8 Helvetica8" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photos by Russ Henry ©2009 ,Text by Russ Henry </span><span class="size8 Helvetica8" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">©2009 by Giving Tree Gardens, all rights reserved.</span><br />
<span class="size8 Helvetica8" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span class="size8 Helvetica8" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.givingtreegardens.com/PrivacyPolicy.html" target="_self"> Giving Tree Garden's privacy policy</a></span><span class="size12 Tahoma12" style="color: #633100; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b></span></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-38121193754752570222009-11-19T16:08:00.000-08:002011-06-20T06:49:54.794-07:00Compost, It's Hot!<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy0mS7RrNyaDa9kArqXVu87mXRm45guyMIfUuyRsMMLp_sv9AHGdBAO5_OMxQN-r9MQPNSDds_CkB8tqPxpTfIoKcAxZY5tF3X2-Mra9XZGkSRg-ho0fek5xXLSqTUtdYvqQIfHDMb2k/s1600/handsincompost.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFy0mS7RrNyaDa9kArqXVu87mXRm45guyMIfUuyRsMMLp_sv9AHGdBAO5_OMxQN-r9MQPNSDds_CkB8tqPxpTfIoKcAxZY5tF3X2-Mra9XZGkSRg-ho0fek5xXLSqTUtdYvqQIfHDMb2k/s400/handsincompost.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>These days it seems folks all around me are taking bold strides to “green up” their everyday lives. Whether we’re motivated to reclaim our health from the abominable agriculture and healthcare industries, or take back our wealth from the robber barons of the big energy companies, all of us are awakening to the idea that it’s time we followed that sage bumper sticker advice and remember how to live simply so that we may simply live. </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Composting is one of the simplest things that I’ve ever learned. As a designer of Earth friendly landscapes and organic gardens, part of my job is to help folks implement changes right outside their doors that positively impact the entire global ecosystem. I routinely testify that there is no greater teacher of natural methods then nature itself. </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So what does nature tell us about compost? </span> </b></span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>In nature there is no waste. Any creature lucky enough to emerge from the muck is quickly turned back into muck upon death, at which point another creature feeds on the muck created by the first creature. Life, death, rebirth, I’m guessing you’ve all heard about this process. When we compost we pay direct homage to this ancient cycle, and our gardens display the rewards of this environmentally respectful approach. What I’m getting at here is that nature shows us that compost grows great plants. Compost has always been the only sustainable means of creating fertility in soil.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Okay so enough about why we should compost, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>First of all, I’m through with black plastic compost bins. Frankly, I hate them. Ineffective, ugly, and misleading to folks, these bins are ridiculous. We already know that the act of composting at home is a way of copying nature. Ask yourself, when was the last time you found a black plastic compost bin on the prairie, or in the woods, or wetlands? Compost happens in nature completely unaided and unhindered by plastic bins. Instead all the parts of the trees, and plants grow up and then periodically or seasonally die off to fall loosely across an open area where the rain soaks the leaves, and the wind and animals stir the whole thing up. After a good sit on the floor of the forest or prairie, a dead leaf or fallen apple becomes soil. At home we copy this process, in an open air compost bin or compost pile we mix together our kitchen waste such as fruits and vegetables, coffee, egg shells, grains, and bread, with our yard waste such as leaves and grass cuttings.</b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"> </span><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This edition of The Seed is dedicated to the hundreds of folks who've asked me how they can make a functional, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing compost system at home. Giving Tree Gardens <a href="http://sprout.mn/users/937-Russ-Henry" target="_self">Russ Henry</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #865802;"> </span><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>is proud to have partnered with another green thinker, <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed11.html" target="_self">Margaret Wilke</a></b></span></span><span style="color: #865802;"> </span><span style="color: #865802;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>to bring you two great gardeners thoughts on growing garden gold from garbage!</b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Garden How To :</b> home composting made easy</span></span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAx6O0xLTAGLhrm40tvq9g3AgAxDhvQEum8dUwxcQ6OQxXAWd0yRNamcJnPGHFK2cpV4ylHfdpse3eirP-XvzeIjuA8-MasxmzXILOA2w65m1pavIBPv10EbFEvj7BSt8NFGKNTkRnWs/s1600/23_CompostSystem.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAx6O0xLTAGLhrm40tvq9g3AgAxDhvQEum8dUwxcQ6OQxXAWd0yRNamcJnPGHFK2cpV4ylHfdpse3eirP-XvzeIjuA8-MasxmzXILOA2w65m1pavIBPv10EbFEvj7BSt8NFGKNTkRnWs/s400/23_CompostSystem.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When attempting to adapt open air composting to the urban environment a little experienced advice can be handy. I always describe the best urban composting system as the 4-Bin system that I learned from my friend <a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed11.html" target="_self">Margaret Wilke</a>. Simply make 4 bins that are at least 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep each. The bins should be made out of whatever re-usable construction materials you have around. I love to use chicken wire and stakes because they’re cheap and breathable. Make sure the sides of your bins allow for a lot of air flow, so if you make your bins out of wood leave a few inches of space between each board. Situate your bins in a location that is easily accessible so you don’t feel like you’re going for a hike each time you bring a bucket of kitchen scraps out.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If you are worried about ill-tempered neighbors or city inspectors, you could always plant raspberry bushes along the sides of your bins. That way the bins will be disguised and you’ll have a peace offering to share with any disgruntled passers by. Using your 4-bin system should look a little something like this:</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPYbt3usZRxrUAJVm-LZxVgN227dQzshBDhahBvMOIsABDcBhFaw2jJfeBRdfFEmJNPGIJEh2Gt1iOSwwlxWntXEcUsbxDCMTSolh0ABXhyrlLfOxZa1q5Res9v5GSbPuq-Vurhihl_c/s1600/24_DSC_0011.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPYbt3usZRxrUAJVm-LZxVgN227dQzshBDhahBvMOIsABDcBhFaw2jJfeBRdfFEmJNPGIJEh2Gt1iOSwwlxWntXEcUsbxDCMTSolh0ABXhyrlLfOxZa1q5Res9v5GSbPuq-Vurhihl_c/s400/24_DSC_0011.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Bin 1:</b> This is a storage space for yard waste.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Bin 2</b>: Whenever I’ve collected enough food waste in my kitchen scrap bucket I empty the bucket into Bin 2 and then I layer on a healthy dose of yard waste from Bin 1. </span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Bin 3</b>: After Bin 2 is full, I move all of its contents into Bin 3.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Bin 4</b>: After Bin 3 is full, I move all of its contents into Bin 4.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the time you’ve layered and then moved your compostables from bin to bin a few times you’ve got yourself some real garden gold. Feed your new plantings plenty of this fine homemade magic and watch them grow healthy and bountiful. Give the entire garden a 2-inch layer of compost each spring in order to ensure a full season of growth.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #04c112;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Composting is not a science; it is an easy craft that anyone can master. The only other advice I can think of on the matter is to be flexible, adjust the materials and size of the bins to suit your needs. Don’t get hung up about your ratio of kitchen waste to yard waste, your yard’s a little piece of nature and there’s supposed to be way more leaves and grass cuttings then there are fruits and vegetables. Feel free to put some soil or already composted materials in with your bins, this can help speed up your composting process. Composting is easy, so don't let your scraps go to waste anymore! </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Margaret talks compost</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed11.html" target="_self">Margaret</a></span><span class="size11 TrebuchetMS11" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> stands beside the compost system that she's been faithfully using for more then 20 years in the picture below. Composting is one of Margaret's passions, and her wisdom rubs off on anyone who visits her gardens!</span></i><span style="color: #633100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwtZbWTq80I6XH6Gd1mGAFJs9zfM6vBIrED0Vol1JwYV136V8De4aE0YiKQ5sbgQA_gWxuRlJgGqdM-7ojdbrfu7ovi3HS2b4Tn7scXdFjYD1epDZFrUWVFwJI2Fx3E6CHiGWAmpKcC4/s1600/26_MargaretsCompost.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwtZbWTq80I6XH6Gd1mGAFJs9zfM6vBIrED0Vol1JwYV136V8De4aE0YiKQ5sbgQA_gWxuRlJgGqdM-7ojdbrfu7ovi3HS2b4Tn7scXdFjYD1epDZFrUWVFwJI2Fx3E6CHiGWAmpKcC4/s400/26_MargaretsCompost.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Composting is one of my passions.</b> I think it is because it is a kind of alchemy. You can turn things that people normally throw away into GOLD! Well, not real gold, but something as valuable as gold to anyone who gardens. You would have to pay a lot of money to get the kind of enrichment for your soil that organic compost gives you, and my bet is it wouldn’t be as good, either for the garden or for the environment.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It all starts in the kitchen.</b> We keep an old ice cream bucket with a lid handy in the kitchen sink. Everything that is plant based, that normally would go into the trash, winds up in the bucket instead. Even with just two of us these days, my husband and I, we often have a bucket or more of material to take out to the compost heap every day, especially in the summer. It makes us very aware of how much we are dependent on the products from the earth for our health and well being. Food comes from somewhere, and it’s not the grocery store! And plant material needs to go back into the garden to complete the God-given natural cycle that sustains life.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYJcHuaJDOTpoZ3JEyFxfRzzcdnDWOaCiX_a6QMrGuSeD9Uz1VTDg6ie-DFNBteeFgAwmDzNY__-ro7DShho3SY0MEg4awBlSAxi3ifBsOXyAFTaxpu0u2Ma8NKxlhyphenhyphenGisewSFTF1Ylk/s1600/27_DSC_0025.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYJcHuaJDOTpoZ3JEyFxfRzzcdnDWOaCiX_a6QMrGuSeD9Uz1VTDg6ie-DFNBteeFgAwmDzNY__-ro7DShho3SY0MEg4awBlSAxi3ifBsOXyAFTaxpu0u2Ma8NKxlhyphenhyphenGisewSFTF1Ylk/s400/27_DSC_0025.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We compost as long as we can into the fall, and begin again in the spring as soon as there are any days above freezing. Actually, I should rephrase that. I compost as long as I can into the fall, and begin again in the spring as soon as there are any days above freezing. My husband just puts up with me.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here’s what goes into the bucket from the kitchen:</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All vegetable and fruit trimmings, skins, seeds, stems, leaves, etc.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Coffee grounds (very key because they have nitrogen that helps the compost “cook”)</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tea bags</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Egg shells</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Left over / day old / moldy bread products (no butter please!)</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My family knows that Mom will have a fit if she finds a banana peel in the kitchen trashcan. Roses love bananas.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8jV9ZPJdru30rS8Qs8WRumoe1oaFWfWJeUAOPh2gBe-gX9HM97gDcOLuYQmAKaIcJjqGWPlJ_SBERR80XX3B0u265gWU-lkXvmKeP4cc84hoGlK7ZWsDDs4-jf7wjmBfKI53eu9SlzM/s1600/28_DSC_0005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8jV9ZPJdru30rS8Qs8WRumoe1oaFWfWJeUAOPh2gBe-gX9HM97gDcOLuYQmAKaIcJjqGWPlJ_SBERR80XX3B0u265gWU-lkXvmKeP4cc84hoGlK7ZWsDDs4-jf7wjmBfKI53eu9SlzM/s400/28_DSC_0005.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We add this kitchen mix to the compost pile daily and ALWAYS cover it with dry leaves or fresh green material such as garden trimmings and grass clippings (IF they are chemical free). It is amazing how fast those banana peels, potato skins, and broccoli stems break down and become completely unrecognizable! Eggshells take longer, so I generally try to break them up before putting them in the pile. If there hasn’t been rain for a while I occasionally water down the piles, but not very often. Once in a while I shovel some partially finished compost and/or garden soil over the top of everything to give it the microbes it needs to break down. That also ensures there are no odors from the pile for neighbors to complain about. Keeping the fresh additions from the kitchen COVERED is key to having an odor free pile. It keeps inquiring animals at bay as well. Also you won’t attract flies or bees when the fresh stuff is kept adequately covered.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Above, the compost process begins in earnest when kitchen scraps are mixed with yard waste in Bin # 1</span></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxOeIAp-rmVnRkHsoofz-e0_ueZk0e9zFjx5A0uC2IZ_F9bEqARu_fbUQ2WXFDBIAoIINl3THM5hGc6FYUxxd8qNVO7YMdloOiHUzOHYxRwvCV0X_EV_5ytFoLEqXf7WJhJCRWfsQgc0/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxOeIAp-rmVnRkHsoofz-e0_ueZk0e9zFjx5A0uC2IZ_F9bEqARu_fbUQ2WXFDBIAoIINl3THM5hGc6FYUxxd8qNVO7YMdloOiHUzOHYxRwvCV0X_EV_5ytFoLEqXf7WJhJCRWfsQgc0/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A mix of green(kitchen waste) and brown (yard waste) materials is ideal. I use everything from the garden EXCEPT weeds with seeds. I have learned the hard way that weed seeds will make it through most backyard composting systems. These piles are not usually large enough to generate the high heat needed to kill weed seeds. I am also very careful about which spent flowers with seeds I put into my compost piles as well. Your garden will be entirely black-eyed susans, for example, or purple coneflowers if you put the flower heads with these seeds into your compost. I generally cut off the flower heads and then throw the stems and leaves into the compost. Otherwise I just pull up over-zealous plants when they’ve finished blooming and pile them in a dark corner under the evergreens in the back of the yard where they are out of sight. There they break down but don’t get enough light for the seeds to germinate. </span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><i><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bins number 2 and 3 show us the various stages of waste becoming soil. Bin number 3 below is full of healthy happy compost just waiting to spread its organic fertile magic!</span></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpIBztbKQw0M-Sr4bV8h8r07M8LrY6zH9js8pxwlUSODmiFWvZkpliKQviShCfjLy0X88KcICcXiaePi9tKaIO-fHCvxASdqWRGGvCUREHSOmR5T1726hmFs7Nua0LyWWLVYj4J0wsu0/s1600/30_DSC_0006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpIBztbKQw0M-Sr4bV8h8r07M8LrY6zH9js8pxwlUSODmiFWvZkpliKQviShCfjLy0X88KcICcXiaePi9tKaIO-fHCvxASdqWRGGvCUREHSOmR5T1726hmFs7Nua0LyWWLVYj4J0wsu0/s400/30_DSC_0006.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for brown material, hay without seeds will work, but is expensive. I have sometimes used oat straw that has seeds in it, the kind used for Halloween decorations, particularly if someone gives it to me free. If I’m sure the pile will be completely composted, then I feel okay about adding it to the compost pile. The sprouts of oat seeds from the straw are easily identifiable and pull up readily if a few of them make it through the composting process. But, I wouldn’t want them all over the garden, so I don’t use oat straw as mulch.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once a summer I do a major turning of the piles. This is when a strong husband comes in handy. But I have done it myself, it just takes a little longer, since I have to do it a bit at a time, not all at once as hubby prefers (“Let’s just get it over with!”)</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><i><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Margaret's compost system is the most functional home composting method that I've ever seen. Notice how the posts are all slotted which makes moving and scooping the pile very easy.</span></i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBXa9iz8uoL8-a3kI3i3DR3kjQWr2LTGjwlFBVYL-XINh2p886vsYs_94ktT-4j4o3K-1-lgG0Ocas19eT3E6SlP4w7TV9RFf9Bd_c69JRVCS9Insqs2Ok9Ja2FTVdOrLD-HLmXuNhLs/s1600/31_MargaretsBin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBXa9iz8uoL8-a3kI3i3DR3kjQWr2LTGjwlFBVYL-XINh2p886vsYs_94ktT-4j4o3K-1-lgG0Ocas19eT3E6SlP4w7TV9RFf9Bd_c69JRVCS9Insqs2Ok9Ja2FTVdOrLD-HLmXuNhLs/s640/31_MargaretsBin.jpeg" width="424" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Making compost in Minnesota has the advantage of the freeze / thaw process that helps break down organic matter without any help from you at all. It takes about a full season to make really good compost. Once you have the cycle started you can easily keep it going and will be supplied with compost pretty much throughout the growing season.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have three compost bins that my husband built for me at least 20 years ago. They are about 4 feet across and 5' deep. They stand side by side with removable boards in the front of each bin, and also between the bins so that turning material from one bin to the next is not too difficult. I always keep fresh material separated from the 1/2 completed compost, and from the aged compost, so three bins are needed.</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSmEwoNDk_Ccfl8mSrA1rgIMPxF-jNGdITueHkT-5UGJBLOA1XmQ0TPtC7MucZV3QAHdUvoTI6Jkme4z75GkyiIskYYK7OaSxIRax5n8H18zbjqvbxX19j2vJ80w7HbsPB_yLEV0ZL44/s1600/32_DSC_0033.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSmEwoNDk_Ccfl8mSrA1rgIMPxF-jNGdITueHkT-5UGJBLOA1XmQ0TPtC7MucZV3QAHdUvoTI6Jkme4z75GkyiIskYYK7OaSxIRax5n8H18zbjqvbxX19j2vJ80w7HbsPB_yLEV0ZL44/s320/32_DSC_0033.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once a bin is emptied by using the compost for potting-up spring plants or spreading it on the gardens, I turn the next most finished compost into it. This aerates the pile and gets it cooking. Then I turn the least finished compost into the just emptied bin and start a new pile. Composting fits naturally into the cycle of growing and life in the garden. </span></span> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Try it you’ll like it!</span></span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b><span style="color: #633100;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From the kitchen to the garden and back to the kitchen, Margaret's compost system is easy to build, fun to use, and it makes the best dirt around, just have a look at </span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed11.html" target="_self">Margaret's gardens</a></span><span class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" style="color: #3f9c2d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> to see for yourself!</span></b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho10chj7TWfTi4GSYOXCPZxJx91QqU0t1dnXhgXe7lpmw0Wu2vPkETGGjCUFFz2HbzRcaonDAkP-QlTbqJgJ_XVVXdT8393KPPLDcYKdwIEPZS8QEn4E3E-LagVTSqFD0Gvvvk_FZ-BCE/s1600/33_DSC_0009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho10chj7TWfTi4GSYOXCPZxJx91QqU0t1dnXhgXe7lpmw0Wu2vPkETGGjCUFFz2HbzRcaonDAkP-QlTbqJgJ_XVVXdT8393KPPLDcYKdwIEPZS8QEn4E3E-LagVTSqFD0Gvvvk_FZ-BCE/s320/33_DSC_0009.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #633100; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">~<a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed11.html" target="_self">Margaret Wilke</a></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-48864323893404964462009-10-22T12:33:00.000-07:002009-10-22T12:43:19.112-07:00Growing Power In Minneapolis<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbsRmshT_qgokXNEh5Zd7z8EbBrmPm8ASlpLdLum6735tN5bx1WBIudxrTm-2BX_Vlih9hk8NyTOQ9xrivU1t7Rr9Km4Ox0yAOV1TUZIr6aGaTgEncxa_bSYM_g8KlG9AAfRguA5vYFU/s1600-h/GrowingPower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbsRmshT_qgokXNEh5Zd7z8EbBrmPm8ASlpLdLum6735tN5bx1WBIudxrTm-2BX_Vlih9hk8NyTOQ9xrivU1t7Rr9Km4Ox0yAOV1TUZIr6aGaTgEncxa_bSYM_g8KlG9AAfRguA5vYFU/s320/GrowingPower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395510748468931778" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >In our fair cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the gap between the haves and have-nots is so striking that it can literally be tasted. The difference in food selection and availability between low-income neighborhoods and wealthy neighborhoods is painfully obvious. In this world, far to few folks acknowledge that access to healthy foods is a basic human right. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Now's the time for us to stand up together and work for a better future, where healthy food is available and accessible to everyone. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Click below to read how Giving Tree Gardens has worked this growing season with an amazing array of folks from around the country to start growing community power, personal health, and food justice here at home! </span><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed31.html"><span style="color: rgb(134, 88, 2);font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" ><b>CLICK HERE to read The Seed #31, Food Justice! </b></span></a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-48559138021100303622009-09-22T13:02:00.000-07:002009-09-22T13:29:36.824-07:00Russ Henry and GIving Tree on the RADIO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWQivtvc2nbvtjwYW-ULbduJumedhR4YhBVKb0xFKt5QTZB-nQI-ImGk9xPiJQrZq_rq31tSwv-5G3xzfj38J1W774RIx6hacixTeHRUOlOjLD1GA3Z2B3SLTFPfX5WFixWe_EW6as9U/s1600-h/DSC_0097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWQivtvc2nbvtjwYW-ULbduJumedhR4YhBVKb0xFKt5QTZB-nQI-ImGk9xPiJQrZq_rq31tSwv-5G3xzfj38J1W774RIx6hacixTeHRUOlOjLD1GA3Z2B3SLTFPfX5WFixWe_EW6as9U/s320/DSC_0097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384389650865300290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">WE'RE GONNA BE ON THE RADIO!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">KFAI Radio Without Boundaries is going to air a documentary featuring Giving Tree's Gardens at the Seward Co-op and Deli in Minneapolis</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">This Thursday the 24th of September during the 6pm news!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.periodistacostilla.org/radio/09/RoosterGTG09.mp3"><span style="color: rgb(134, 88, 2);font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" ><b>CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL 7 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY! </b></span></a><br /></div>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7401924047103962280.post-14393432923808300372009-09-21T10:33:00.000-07:002009-09-21T10:42:11.733-07:00The Seed Volume 30 is online! Fermenting the Harvest!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lyhe3xXR-PPyLGKY1L_ssPJH-cVb1p5VlNtE8w6H2kH4Wn8cpzWubnhigbad3uiyajJYHk2ls3V2_umPudPgNY_E-qhP9QIt9KWDKxkBpOFXdug4cXkjwq7iieAnM-EH2AtmvKVaUjE/s1600-h/DSC_0382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lyhe3xXR-PPyLGKY1L_ssPJH-cVb1p5VlNtE8w6H2kH4Wn8cpzWubnhigbad3uiyajJYHk2ls3V2_umPudPgNY_E-qhP9QIt9KWDKxkBpOFXdug4cXkjwq7iieAnM-EH2AtmvKVaUjE/s320/DSC_0382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383976616375170546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"> Harvest time is here, and organic gardeners everywhere have an abundance of food on their hands and plates! Organic gardeners are health conscious folks, and there's no more healthy a way to preserve your bumper crops for winter storage then through the use of fermentation! </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><br /> Giving Tree Gardens would like to help empower folks everywhere to take their health into their own hands, click below to learn how to turn your fall harvest into a winter full of health with the power of kimchi fermentation!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.gtgardens.com/TheSeed30.html"><span style="color: rgb(134, 88, 2);font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" class="size12 TrebuchetMS12" ><b>CLICK HERE to learn how to grow your own HEALTH SUSTAINING KIMCHI </b></span></a>Roosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07161578463373844300noreply@blogger.com