Recently in the CE Category

Here is a MG continuing education opportunity: the 2013 Midwest Extension Compost School, June 3-5, 2013.
If you have questions, please contact:
Tom Halbach
Professor and Extension Educator, Waste Management and Water Quality
Phone: 612-625-3135     
email:   thalbach@umn.edu
web:  http://www.soils.umn.edu/

For Immediate Release
Contact: Minnesota State Horticultural Society, 651-643-3601, ext 211

The Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS) is sponsoring presentations by Seed Savers Exchange at the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, which is held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The free special presentations will be held in Room 103 of the Convention Center on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3.

Seed Savers Exchange of Decorah, Iowa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds. They are the nation's leading nonprofit organization in the field of genetic diversity.

Seed Savers Exchange will present on the following topics:

Planting and Saving Heirloom Seeds
Saturday, March 2, 4 p.m.
Presenter: Diane Ott Whealy, Co-Founder and Vice President of Education at Seed Savers Exchange

What's "New" with Heirlooms
Sunday, March 3, 10 a.m.
Presenter: Kelly Tagtow, Seed Savers Exchange   
New heirloom introductions in 2013, and the unique and valuable stories behind the seeds.

Planting and Saving Heirloom Seeds
Sunday, March 3, 11:30 a.m.
Presenter: Diane Ott Whealy, cofounder and Vice President of Education at Seed Savers Exchange.

Door prizes will be given out at the talks on Sunday, and the 2013 Seed Savers Exchange catalog will be available in limited quantities. Seed Savers Exchange seeds will be available for purchase during the entire Minneapolis Home and Garden Show through the Minnesota State Horticultural Society in Room 103.

There is no fee to attend the events in this room during the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show.  Parking at downtown Minneapolis meters is free on Sundays.

Tickets for the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show are available for purchase at the door or at www.homeandgardenshow.com. Presentations on the Garden Theater Stage are arranged by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. The full presentation listing can be seen at www.northerngardener.org or www.homeandgardenshow.com.

For more information, contact the Minnesota State Horticultural Society at 651-643-3601, ext 211.

All Things Spring
Saturday, March 9
U of M Southern Research and Outreach Center
Located at "Old" Hwy 14 and County Rd 41 (west edge of Waseca, across from Loon Lake) http://sroc.cfans.umn.edu

Pre-registration required by Wednesday, February 27. Space is limited.
Contact: Deanne Nelson, 507-835-3620; nelso191@umn.edu

Educational sessions

"How to Have it All"
Ms. Bonnie Blodgett
"How to Have it All" will be presented by distinguished writer and gardener, Bonnie Blodgett. Bonnie's garden has been on tours and in magazines. Her garden writing has been published in Garden Design, Fine Gardening and Better Homes and Gardens. She is the gardening expert for Midwest Home and writes a weekly gardening column in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

"Practical Tips for Vegetable Gardening"
Jurgen Peters
When deciding what fruits and vegetables you want to grow, there are questions you need to ask yourself and guidelines to follow. Jurgen Peters, retired agriculture educator and former Extension agent, will present information to help you grow a successful garden, no matter what your level of expertise.

"Growing Beer in Minnesota"
Dr. Charlie Rohwer
The craft brewing industry is expanding tremendously in Minnesota. We'll take a look at what goes into making beer and how local ingredients, specifically hops, might become a part of Minnesota beer. Other uses for hops (ornamental, sedative, and edible) will be discussed, and a brief history of hops and some tips for growing them will be incorporated. Charlie Rohwer, Scientist at the U of M, Southern Research and Outreach Center has been making beer since 2002, is a certified beer judge, and has been growing hops for research since 2010. 

"Gardening with a Changing Climate"
Dr. Mary Meyer
What does a changing weather pattern and longer growing season mean for gardeners? What plants could we now grow in Minnesota and what do we need to know to plan for gardens in the future? Mary Meyer, Professor, U of M, Dept. of Horticultural Science, will discuss the new USDA plant hardiness zone map and give recommendations for planting in microclimates near your home. We will look at the state of Minnesota and how the hardiness zones have changed and what this means for gardeners.

Door prize drawings
This event may count toward continuing education hours for Extension Master Gardeners

Registration:
Send $25 along with your name and address to:
Deanne Nelson
UM Southern Research & Outreach Center
35838 120th Street Waseca, MN 56093

Registration fee covers morning refreshments, lunch and handouts. Specify if you prefer a vegetarian or gluten free lunch.

Questions or need more information?
Call the SROC at 507-835-3620
http://sroc.cfans.umn.edu

Questions? Contact: Angie Gupta, agupta@umn.edu

2013 Forest Pest First Detector workshops scheduled

Forest Pest First Detector workshops are for anyone who wants the latest in-depth information about new invasive pests that affect Minnesota's landscape trees and urban and rural forests. The 2013 workshops will include material on emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, Asian long horned beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, thousand cankers disease, tree damage from herbicides, Oriental bittersweet and managing firewood to prevent transporting invasive pests.

Workshops will be offered in:

• Fort Snelling, St. Paul, February 12, 2013
• Callaway, (near Detroit Lakes, MN), February 20, 2013
• Little Falls, February 26, 2013
• Lamberton, February 28, 2013
• St. Peter, March 6, 2013
• Arden Hills, March 12, 2013

Other offerings at the workshops include:

• Minnesota Tree Inspector Exam (offered at the end of the workshop - must sign up for the exam when registering for the workshop)
• Minnesota Tree Inspector Recertification credits.
• Professional Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits by Society of American Foresters (SAF)
• Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for the International Society of Arborists (ISA)

To register for a Forest Pest First Detector workshop please visit our website: http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/forest-pest-first-detector/

Be sure to register early, space is limited!

Questions? Contact: Angie Gupta, agupta@umn.edu

Nature Heals: People, Plants, Animals and the (Re-)connection to Health
Presented by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Nature-Based Therapeutic Services (NBT), a shared initiative with the Center for Spirituality and Healing to further the understanding of how nature heals.

Thursday, March 14, 7-9 p.m. & Friday, March 15
8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: MN Landscape Arboretum in the MacMillan Auditorium
Fee: $85 early bird (register by Feb. 15)
$85 for members of the Arboretum and the Center for Spirituality & Healing;
$95 general registration
Registration and information

About this symposium:
A connection to nature is essential to human health and well-being. Nature Heals is a conversation about the neuroscience of human bonds with the natural world, including plant and animal interaction, and the ways that connecting with nature increase individual health and community well-being. Nature Heals will provide participants with new, research-based information to integrate into programming, policy-making, and fundraising in government,
corporations, non-profits, social services, healthcare industry, community groups, faith-based organizations, schools and families.

Nature Heals will feature authors Eva Selhub, Your Brain on Nature, and Meg Olmert, Made for Each Other. On Thursday, the authors will engage in a discussion about their journeys to understand the health impact of nature on humans. On Friday, the University will roll out its new NBT offerings, and the audience will actively engage with the authors to learn more about how individual health and community well-being can increase through a close and
dynamic relationship with plants and animals.

Registration and information

Growing Healthy Shade Trees with IPM  Webinar
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013; 11:30-1:00 PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

Go to: https://learn.extension.org/events/867 for registration information.

Sign up now for this webinar that will cover many of the questions you are asked about Shade Trees. Selecting, managing and caring for trees, especially maple, ash and oak on home landscapes will be covered in this 90 minute webinar. Designed for Extension Master Gardeners in the North Central States, planting, fertilizer, water and preventing abiotic problems will be covered by Jeff Gillman, associate professor, University of Minnesota. Michelle Grabowski, plant pathologist from the University of Minnesota will discuss diseases and insects will be covered by David J. Shetlar, (the BugDoc), Professor of Urban Landscape Entomology, The Ohio State University.

Preference will be given to group registrations, which will be FREE. Extension educators and Master Gardener groups with multiple participants will be FREE, group or host sites. Individual registrations are welcome, but will cost $10.

This educational session counts toward continuing education hours for Extension Master Gardeners. Limited to the first 200 registrations or online connections. Host sites will be given preference to individuals.

This webinar will be taped for future reference.