Forks in the Dirt

Page 11 of 15

Worms at Work: Vermicomposting 101

May 25, 2018 / / 6 Comments

Compost is Key

We all know compost is good for your garden soil, and that I’m a big fan of incorporating composting into the garden cycle- but did you know that worm castings are nature’s effortless and ideal answer to up-cycling!? Vermicomposting is the practice of using worms to decompose food scraps and using their worm poop (aka worm castings) to grow more great  food. 

Melanie with some impressive garlic- must be the worm castings!

I asked local vermicomposting expert, Melanie Harding, to help us understand more about using worms to transform trash into treasure. Melanie has been Tamarack Nature Center’s Naturalist Coordinator for going on 5 years. She’s most happy when she gets to help people have those light bulb moments when they make a nature connection. Her info here will have light bulbs going off all over the place!

So… let’s all learn a little more from Melanie:

I have a deep respect for decomposers – those marvelous creatures that recycle nature’s leftovers into the building blocks of new life. That probably doesn’t surprise people who know me, as I have been working in the field of environmental education for more than 25 years. But when someone finds out I have worms living in my kitchen, the reaction is usually surprise…followed by disgust…and eventually curiosity. Those who are curious enough to ask about the three bins stacked inconspicuously in the corner, open a proverbial “can of worms” at my house. I have worms living in my kitchen and I love to talk about them!

Everyone can help with the worms!

Continue reading

It’s All Good: Organics

May 3, 2018 / / 3 Comments

There’s something comforting about meeting people who are doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s even better when they’ve taken over the family farm; better for the land, the crops, the animals- and better for us lucky people who get to eat the food they raise.

Butch and Kris Cardinal of All Good Organics have worked hard to find their groove and they’ve really hit their stride after figuring out their unique niches.

The farm on April 20th, 2018 – thank goodness we’re all melted now!

Butch is a 5th generation farmer – OF THE SAME LAND. His family has been farming their slice of heaven at 6657 Centerville Road in Hugo since 1866. The way they have farmed has swung the pendulum over their 152 years of land stewardship. “Everything was organic back when my dad was born- but then, by the 40’s chemical fertilizers and pesticides showed up. And these guys were of the mind that if a little is good, more is better. When my dad came home from WW2 it was all about the chemicals; they meant less weeding,” but it took over 50 years for most farmers to figure out that the chemicals had some major downsides.

Pulling produce from the greenhouse all winter long!

Butch knew what we could grow as a conventional grower with the pesticides and herbicides, but he’s worked with them and didn’t want them around-. “I mean, just read the labels and directions on some of them, if I need to put on full suits and respirators to apply, I don’t want that stuff sticking around in my soil or my food.”

So when his dad asked him to help with some pumpkins years ago, he countered with wanting to grow organic vegetables too. They’d been growing conventional hay for years prior.

So, Butch brought the farm back to organic practices, and they’ve been certified since 2010. By USDA NOP (National Organic Program) the transition period is three years. Now they plant 25 acres of vegetables, many started in the 1,800 square foot greenhouse. Like most organic farms, they’ve got a ‘full circle’ approach, using each resource in many ways, and always keeping their eyes open for opportunities.

Butch and Kris in front of their Farm Store

Continue reading

One Year of Digging In!

April 24, 2018 / / 6 Comments

Ringing in 2018!

Let’s Celebrate One Year of Forks in the Dirt!

Looking back over the first year of sharing food stories and info with whoever would listen- I had to stop and say THANK YOU! Thanks for making me so happy I took that leap of faith!!

I’ve learned more than I could have imagined; about growing food, farmers, food systems and building websites- but I also had a chance to distill what is important to me. I got to hang out with dozens of farmers on lovingly cared for land. I got to eat my way through a delicious summer and ate mostly locally grown (home preserved) food all winter.

Karin Costa helping my boys get their weekly sweet corn fix!

Officially, my website had 4,469 reads and lots of engagement over the many different posts on the blog, Facebook and Instagram… again, thanks for showing up!

*Some* of the topics covered:
Composting, Community Gardens, Farmers,  CSA’s, Planting Tips, Farmers Market Shopping Tips, Farm + Food Events, Raising Backyard Chickens, Pollinators, Food Hubs, Foraging,  Healthy Eating Recipes + Canning Recipes, Food Shelves, Growing for Food Shelves, the first ever Winter WBL Farmers Market and our WBL Seed Library– wheee! Continue reading

Planting your garden based on the “Dirty Dozen”

April 5, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Nothing beats home grown strawberries!

Using the Environmental Working Group’s ‘Dirty Dozen‘ List to plant a Healthy Harvest!

*Post updated 4/24/2024*

I’ve used this guide for years to help me choose what I plant in my veggie patch. I pay close attention to the Environmental Working Group (EWG’s) ‘Dirty Dozen’; an annually updated list of the twelve fruits and veggies found to have the highest levels of pesticide and herbicide residue. This is a straightforward publication that can help you both in purchasing healthy food,  and planning what you want to plant. The EWG has so much well researched information; their website is worthwhile for their “Food Scores” app among others.

Why do you grow your own fruits + vegetables?

Of course the taste is far better than you can buy in the grocery store, and the nutritional value is higher because of freshness… but after a few common truths, the reasons we grow our food are as wonderfully varied as each garden. I see this as part of the inherent beauty of growing your own food.  Beauty in diversity through and through♥!

For my family, we grow what we like to eat (duh). You have to enjoy the ‘fruits’ of your labor or else tending the garden will become more work than pleasure.

One way I can easily justify spending my time hauling compost and growing seedlings is knowing how much tastier and healthier the food we’re eating is than what I can get in the grocery store. Another thing that keeps me weeding through the steamy months is how much money I’m growing- I mean saving –  my family.

For those of you interested in getting the most bang for your buck with garden space… Continue reading

Community Gardens Keep US Growing

March 24, 2018 / / 2 Comments

Community Garden workday. This plot in-between a parking lot and a street grows food for a food shelf and was one of my first blogs.

Community Gardens

These gardens have the ability to take a single piece of land, work its soil collectively and deepen our growth both as individuals and part of our local community. With more people living in housing with limited or yard space, these kinds gardens are rapidly growing.

Like most things that develop organically, community gardens are as varied as the communities they take root in. The one thing all community gardens offer is garden space for gardeners to grow. It’s the ‘who, what, where, when, why and how’ that makes each garden unique.

These gardens find their homes on city, county, school district, faith based and privately owned land. Just like the kinds of produce grown, there are an infinite number of combinations and variations of garden structures limited only by the organizers’ imaginations.

The University of Minnesota’s horticultural department recently published a guide to starting a community garden and wanted to share it HERE!

Minneapolis Community Gardens

The City of Minneapolis runs eight community gardens, and has land set aside for double that in the upcoming years! Follow the link to find out more about getting  a plot at one of these maintained community gardens!
Minneapolis Community Garden Link 

Ramsey County Community Gardens

Ramsey County’s List of current Community Gardens includes 8 locations, plus a link to find the many housed within the city of St. Paul- in general these are pretty well scattered throughout the county. Find a LISTING of gardens or click on the:
Ramsey County Community  Garden MAP

Local Community Gardens

Below are a few favorite Metro community gardens where you’ll learn from others and grow so much more than food.

Edgerton Community Gardens

New gardener registration is available online if you want to nab a plot or a raised bed here. You can rent either a 12’ x 15’ plot or 4’ x 8’ raised bed (eighteen inches height, priority for raised beds will be given to those with self-reporting mobility issues, though not wheelchair accessible) for $25-35. Their season runs April 27-October 24. 

Oasis Park in Roseville

This is the largest rentable community garden I found, with 120 garden plots measuring 15’X20’. The single plots are rented for between $20-$30. Registration opens to all Roseville residents on April 2 and opens to all on April 16. Garden is open for planting May 1- October 31. Mark your calendars!

Tatum Park Community Garden

Tatum Park Community Garden is on Taylor Ave in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, just west of Newell Park. There are 20 plots and about 3/4 of the members are returning.  There’s a Facebook page too! Or email to grab the last of those garden plots! Their annual meeting is usually scheduled for late April. You can also email: tatumparkgarden@gmail.com directly.

White Bear Area YMCA Community Garden

YMCA Gardeners grew a beautiful variety of flowers and vegetables last season!

Set on the grounds of an old skate park, the garden is greening up this piece of black top.

You can contact the YMCA front desk at 651-777-8103 or message me directly to reserve a plot.

Mahtomedi Community Gardens

The Mahtomedi Community Garden on the first day of Spring, 2018

These gardens sit behind the District Education Center building on a sunny expanse of land. These are popular garden beds, measuring in at 9’X11.5’ go for $40 each. To register, follow this LINK . These gardens were lovingly started by a couple of dedicated teachers over a decade ago- thank you teachers! At least one plot is always reserved for the Mahtomedi Food Shelf. Way to grow Mahtomedi!

Health Partners Community Garden

Health Partners WBL Clinic garden all prepped and spring planted!

It just seems right that a health clinic should have access to fresh vegetables, right?!

Well some visionary Doctors and staff decided to make it happen a few years ago and the garden has been growing, and sharing its produce with the White Bear Food Shelf ever since. They have a great space and good workplace involvement, and are considering expanding this season again. This garden is maintained by the staff at the Health Partners clinic as a way to build their own community, and ‘be the change’.

Sumner Park Community Garden

Community Gardens are inspiring people to get growing all across this beautiful land of ours, hopefully I’ve inspired you to look into a way you can get involved in a community garden near you!

If you happen to have space on your own lot for another garden bed, and you want to grow more food FOR your community, consider starting a giving garden of your own!

I’ve got serious Spring Fever and can’t wait to Dig In!

Michelle

Bountiful CSA Box. Photo Credit: Big River Farms

CSA’s So Many Ways

March 8, 2018 / / 3 Comments

I’m already a pretty big fan of supporting your local farmer, and YOU all are my wonderful community- so “Community Supported Agriculture” is an obvious sweet spot.

**Updated 2/21/2023 with current links**

Turnip Rock Farm’s very own Farmer Josh

CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) have been around for in some form or another since the mid 1980’s- which first struck me as a much shorter history than I’d imagined. But, then I realized that the CSA idea came about jointly from both Farmers and consumers looking for new ways to grow good food- and eat good food.

This was one way to make a concrete change in how those consumers ate, and who grew their food. The basic idea of a CSA is that farmers get the purchase price up front to help cover costs of the upcoming farming season. With farmers knowing that they have that money, they are able to move forward with confidence, and maybe without a bank breathing down their necks…

Half Share from 2017, Photo Credit: Big River Farms

The rewards for a member of a CSA are manyfold; fresh in-season produce boxed up and ready to go weekly at a pick up location of your choice, often with a newsletter or recipe ideas included. As I see it, the biggest reward is building a relationship with a farmer.

My husband and I purchased our first CSA back about nine years ago to get fresh, locally grown produce while I was still working full time. It is kind of funny that I can’t remember the name of the farm, but I do remember I picked up my weekly boxes from one of the quaint little shops (The Nest) in downtown White Bear Lake. I never met the farmer, and there was never an invite from the farmer to do so.

CSAs give you a few of everything each week, instead of everything all at once! Photo Credit, Costa Farm

Things have changed, on both the farmer and the consumer sides. Farmers are being more proactive in forging relationships, and consumers are looking for more than good food grown cheap- more and more, the people buying CSAs are doing it for a chance to connect to a farm, a farmer, a piece of land…and to benefit from the GOOD food these farmers provide.

Now that the CSA idea has had time to take root- it has also branched out in a few different directions. For this article, I’ve chosen a few local farms that represent the wide variety of options available to those of us lucky enough to live around the Twin Cities. Each of the following farms has a unique twist to them, showing again there’s so many ways to grow good food!

I would absolutely recommend any of the farms covered- but I’d also urge you to do your own research too, there are more and more (yay!) CSAs popping up every year. Currently, according the powerful MNGrown CSA search engine there are 86 CSAs in Minnesota. Use these ‘case studies’ as a launch pad to get yourself thinking what you want out of a CSA… Continue reading

Chickens in the Hood

February 15, 2018 / / 16 Comments

My social flock, hoping for treats

With a cluck, cluck here, and a cluck, cluck there…

Raising backyard chickens is on a steady rise with no signs of slowing, and I completely understand why! In my opinion, raising hens is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways we can plug back into our food system.

I got my first chickens almost 20 years ago, and I’ve been lucky enough to raise chickens (roosters too) in a few different situations; a farm in Sweden, a home with a few acres of woods surrounding it, and now in my fenced in suburban backyard. Each situation has given me and the chickens unique freedoms and challenges.

Part of my old flock from Sweden

Chickens require only a few minutes of care a day, but it is DAILY care, and they’ll be more like pets the more you hang out with them. There will be a LOT of poop, and some amazing eggs. The continual chicken antics are an added bonus.

There are so many obvious benefits to raising hens

*Convert Table scraps into eggs

*Break the disease and pest cycle in gardens/fruit trees

*Till your garden space for you

*Add to compost piles and work them for you

*Fertilize plants once manure is aged

The other intangibles include teaching your children, and/or yourself some basics about where our food comes from,  feeling like you can make a difference in the food chain, and companionship. Our hens make our whole yard more enjoyable, and we all spend more time outside because of them. And yes, even on those dark, sub-zero winter mornings, I’m always glad I got outside for a few minutes.

Think you’re ready to pull on your muck boots and join me in the coop?  I can’t wait to welcome you to our flock, but first there are a few things to consider.

Elevate your homesteading game with our essential guide on how to raise backyard chickens! Discover the ABCs of coop construction, learn the secrets to happy hens, and enjoy a daily harvest of fresh eggs. Read the post to explore the joys of chicken keeping and cultivate a connection to sustainable living.

Are Chickens Allowed?

Our two Black Australorp as babies

Continue reading

Garden Dreams ⇒ Garden Goals

February 8, 2018 / / 3 Comments

I know you’ve felt it too, even though its still cold- the days are longer, the sun is stronger and the birds have started singing again! Time to dig in and start turning our garden dreams into garden goals. Now is the time to ensure those mouth watering harvests!

There are as many goals for a garden as there are gardeners. There are also as many ways to plan a garden as there are gardeners.

Think about what you want from a garden and go from there.

Peppers, Tomatoes, Beans and Pak Choi

  • Fresh herbs- most herbs do well in containers
  • Salsa garden- that will take some space and extra happy soil
  • Root crops-  to grow and store through the winter a cold frame might be worthwhile
  • Child’s Learning Garden- a raised bed will help in keeping little feet off seeds
  • Space to Relax– Seating and scents, gain privacy with vertical gardening structures

And those of us that like to spend a majority of our Summer’s free time in the garden; honestly assessing what worked and didn’t work from last year’s efforts will go a long way to make this season even better.

Goals for my garden this year include:
Learning how to play more with Mother Nature ~ Grow first successful celery and cauliflower crops ~  Harvest + Preserve healthy food.

Plan to Enjoy Continue reading

Summer at The Good Acre Photo Credit: TGA

The Good Acre: Full Circle Food Hub

January 26, 2018 / / 1 Comment

The Good Acre (TGA) provides Full Circle Local Food System Support. From soil to your table, TGA is there implementing the organization’s mission:

“We connect and strengthen farmers, food makers, and communities through good food.”

This is the place you can learn how to make kimchi, pick up a farm share with locally made add-ons, attend a beginning farmers conference, volunteer in a hoop house or find your child’s school lunch staff kicking up their culinary skills. Full circle!

There is also a contagious positivity running through those artfully slanted walls that makes it all gel.

I stumbled upon this powerhouse operation online while looking up local CSA’s. Turns out Community Supported Agriculture is the perfect term for part of what happens here, but The Good Acre goes way beyond the traditional CSA.

What is a Food Hub Anyway?

Farm Share Packing Day

A food hub, as defined by the USDA, is “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products.”

The thing that the USDA missed in its definition is the community that takes root around an initiative like this. There are farmers who would not be making it if it weren’t for TGA. In 2016 around 65,000 pounds of food moved through the facility. That’s 65,000 pounds of food that traveled significantly less than the average 1,500 miles. Hello lowered carbon footprint.

Food Hubs like TGA aren’t prolific, and that may be in part because for now, they rarely turn a profit. They are often funded in part by donations, grants and in the case of TGA- significant support from the Pohlad Family Foundation. Continue reading

Seed Saving Starts Now!

January 19, 2018 / / 71 Comments

Saving Seeds means Saving Life.

I know that sounds dramatic, but saving seeds is a big part of why humans hunkered down into communities and began our long march towards civilization (we’ve still got on our marching boots though, right!?). Variations of those seeds still sustain us today. 

Until a few generations ago, most people planted what they had saved from the last harvest. With a few additions now and then from neighbors or travelers.

But for me and many home gardeners, saving seeds had fallen off our radars. It is making a bit of a comeback and I am encouraging as many people as I can to jump on this bandwagon with me!

To start saving seeds please remember:
Not all seeds are suited for saving!

There’s a simple trick to buying the right seeds so you can save + grow again.

Grow Heirloom varieties, or open pollinated varieties.  Hybrid seeds will not produce the same vegetable that you took the seed from.

Garden Planning, my Favorite!

I love getting those seeds catalogs and will have larger than anticipated bills at a few seed companies once I finalize my orders, but I am proud to be able to skip over a few seed sections because I’ve saved my own seed stock from what I grew last year.

Saving seed is intuitive- if we stop to see the plants we nurture as part of Mother Nature. Everything has a cycle, and the whole reason tomatoes exists is to grow more tomatoes so they make it easy for us. Or as Michael Pollan suggests in a few books, like The Botany of Desire and TED talks, “the plants have us working for them”. Continue reading

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