Pine Community Connector
April 2024
Welcome to the Pine Community Connector
Horticulture Day Participants Learned What Makes Healthy Soil
Those who attended the UMN Extension Pine County Master Gardener Horticulture Day on Saturday, March 16 at Pine City High School learned what makes healthy soil from keynote speaker Ann Marie Journey, Ento-Ventures LLC founder, and former Soil Health Coordinator with MN Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Journey pointed out that it takes 500 to 1000 years to form one inch of soil. She said that anything living, or once living, in soil is organic matter (OM). Our temperate forest soils may contain 20% OM; prairie soils may contain 10%. 90% of soil function depends on OM. Most soil organic matter and biological activity is in the top four inches. “So, it is critical to protect the top four inches,” she added.
She cautioned against repeatedly tilling soil whether it be in your garden or farm field.
Minimizing soil disturbance is the first of five soil health practices that she covered. Repeated
tilling breaks up soil pore structure, plant roots, interrupts the natural nutrient cycle and
movement. It also harms insects, invertebrates, bacteria, and fungi that decompose surface
plant material and turn it into soil organic matter. Tilling also speeds up bacterial activity that
releases carbon (organic matter) as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Increasing the diversity of plants is the second soil health practice that she covered. The more
types of plant roots in the soil the better she added. Different plants provide a variety of plant
root depths that create tunnels for roots, insects, and nutrient movement.
The third practice is to keep the soil covered to keep it cooler and prevent soil erosion. This
occurs when there are plants, mulch, or plant residue on the soil surface. 70-degree soil
temperature is ideal. That is when 100% of the soil moisture is used for plant growth. Between
95- and 113-degrees, 85% of the soil moisture is lost to evaporation and transpiration and only
15% is available for plant growth. Above a 113-degree soil temperature, the soil bacteria start
dying. At 130 degrees, 100% of soil moisture is lost to evaporation and transpiration. At 140
degrees bacteria die. Covered soil also protects the soil from the impact of rain drops during
rainstorms that break up the soil aggregates and can increase soil erosion.
The fourth soil practice is to maintain living roots with cover crops to have plant roots in the soil
as much of the year as possible.
Finally, introduce herbivores (animals and wildlife who are grazers) to maintain plant growth
and add nutrients and organic matter through their feces.
Horticulture Day participants also had the opportunity to attend two of the following six
breakout sessions: ‘Lilies-An Oasis of Color’ by Denise Haldorson, President of the North Star Lily Society; ‘Butterflies Through the Seasons’ by Larry Weber, naturalist, educator, and author; ‘Common Minnesota Trees & Shrubs’ by Stephen Staupe, College of St. Benedict and St. John’s Professor Emeritus; ‘Companion Planting & Inter-Planting’ by Susan Kirchner, Chisago County Master Gardener; ‘Easy Gardening With Perennials’ by Donna Tatting, Chisago County Master Gardener; and ‘Organic Landscaping 101’ by Russ Henry, Minnehaha Falls Landscaping.
The day included fifteen garden vendors with a variety of garden related items to sell, lunch, and door prizes.
Join 4-H Summer Camp
Join us at Northeast 4-H Camp @ Long Lake Conservation Center as we explore nature through hands-on activities, outdoor recreation, and camp games!
When: June 26-28, 2024
Where: Long Lake Conservation Center, 28952 438th Lane, Palisade, MN
Who: 3rd-6th graders (must have completed 3rd grade)
Registration: Open now through May 31 or until camp is full
4-H is committed to ensuring all youth can experience camp. Scholarships are available.
For more information, visit z.umn.edu/ne4hcamp or email Sarah Odendahl at sodendah@umn.edu.
Dog Project Kicks Off April 15
Youth must register for 4-H and dogs must have proof of current vaccinations in order to participate. For more information, visit our web calendar or contact Sarah at 320-591-1651.
Fridays with a Forester
Join Extension foresters to discuss some of the key issues and questions around forest and woodlands facing Minnesota land stewards. These online sessions will be very informal, open to the public and free of charge.
To register visit extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/fridays-forester
Master Gardener seed trials give Minnesota green thumbs the inside edge on best picks
Looking for the ideal addition to your menu? Give Malbec a try. As in Malbec, the red carrot, though the Malbec red wine could be fine fare, too.
The Malbec red carrot topped its category in the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener 42nd annual seed trials. So did the Derby butter daisy, which judges proclaimed was "definitely the most floriferous variety in the trial."
This year, Master Gardeners from a record 56 Minnesota counties conducted trials seeking the best varieties of flowers and vegetables. They grew hundreds of plants to find the top performing mustard greens, sauce tomatoes, pink cleome, purple and red basil, small watermelons and green pole beans, in addition to red carrots and butter daisies. Participating gardeners do not know the identity of the varieties they’re growing.
"Every year reveals some unexpected results and 2023 was no exception," said Sue Schleiss, a Hennepin County Master Gardener who helps lead the tests.
Master Gardeners discovered better alternatives to the most widely available pole beans. Other tests defied recommended practice, such as mini-watermelons. Contrary to most recommendations, Master Gardeners found they should be started indoors in Minnesota.
See what varieties earned kudos from Master Gardeners and which ones earned a thumbs down at https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/260545.
Original article from University of Minnesota Extension Website. Photo credit: Nick Lamon
Cloverbud Saturday April 13
All youth in grades K-2 are invited to participate in 4-H Cloverbud Saturdays. Each session will highlight a different 4-H project area and give youth the opportunity to explore, complete hands-on projects, make new friends and learn new skills.
Join us on Saturday, April 13 as we spring into gardening!
Who: Cloverbuds Grades K-2
When: Saturday, April 13 from 9:30-11am
Cost: Free
Please register in advance to ensure we have enough supplies by visiting z.umn.edu/PineCloverbuds or calling Joanna at 320-591-1651.
Hügelkultur is Heating Up
Hügelkultur hails from Germany and translates to hill or mound culture. It’s been reportedly practiced in Germany and Eastern Europe for centuries but was made popular in the 1960s in a gardening booklet published by Herrman Andrä. It’s now heating up as a gardening technique in North America, though sustainable gardening enthusiasts have been doing it for years.
Hügelkultur makes good use of yard and garden waste; it’s the perfect home for excess logs, branches, twigs, and leaves. The Hügelkultur also provides a friendly environment for worms and beneficial insects. Unfortunately, rodents also love the labyrinthic structure, though the mound settles substantially each year, eliminating more and more tunnels for mice to find a home in. You can help this by putting down plenty of soil between layers, almost like a mortar or grout.
As the organic matter breaks down it releases nutrients to the plants. The logs at the base of the Hügelkultur absorb water like a sponge and maintain the moisture of the mound, requiring less supplemental watering. There are reports out there that after a few years, a Hügelkultur can go a season without additional watering, as long as rainfall is average. Some say the logs at the base will steal nitrogen from the soil, but this lessens after just a few years.
The hügelkultur is assembled by first layering logs (you get extra credit for hardwood that will break down slower), then branches, twigs, leaves, grass clippings, compost, and garden soil in sequential order to create a large mound. Spread soil between the layers. Some gardeners dig down a little for the first layer of logs, but you don’t need to, which makes it a perfect solution for less-than-ideal soil. You can garden above ground level!
Everything about hügelkultur is good. It provides a nutrient-rich growing environment that helps to conserve water. As the pile decomposes through the years, you are building premium garden soil. It gives a home to garden waste and gardeners report that the mound makes for an easier garden to work in. Bees are also fans! Bumble bees have been known to enjoy the shelter and insulation of these gardening mounds.
Hügelkulturs don't have to be large! Need to fit your smaller garden plot? Hügelkulturs can be built small scale and incorporated into container planting, where leaves and twigs not only add bulk, but as they break down, they fertilize your plants.
Find more information, workshops, resources and more at NorthernGardener.org
Real Life, Good Food Website & SNAP-Ed
Real Life, Good Food is a great food recipe and health resource offered by the University of Minnesota Extension SNAP-ed. The website offers information regarding healthy eating tips, good nutrition, cooking, food resources, physical activity, and a variety of recipes. Ring in Spring with some fresh recipes like Zingy Lemon Chicken Pasta and Blueberry Spinach Smoothies at Real Life, Good Food: reallifegoodfood.umn.edu/.
Educational Opportunities
Snake River Cattlemen's Association Youth Night: Meet "Helga the Cow"
Come meet Joe Armstrong and Helga the Cow on April 18, 2024 at the Rock Creek Livestock Market, Pine City, MN!
Helga the Hereford is a full-size cow model designed to simulate dystocia events (difficult calving). The top of her abdomen can be removed to give those watching a view of what is happening inside the cow while another person attempts to manipulate a calf.
The model helps participants experience an entire assisted calving including manipulating calf position, placing chains on the calf, using lubricants properly, pulling the calf with or without a calf jack, and post-calving procedures.
Helga's calf is a fully articulated model of a Hereford calf and weighs approximately 70 pounds to help best simulate working with a real calf during dystocia. The calf even includes teeth that are quite sharp just like the real thing.
The Snake River Cattlemen's Association Youth Night is sponsored by Mille Lace Veterinary Clinic and Hubbard Feed. Wyatt Lawrence will chat about Hubbard Feed and what works for your cattle operation.
Event Details:
Where: Rock Creek Livestock Market
3923 MN-70
Pine City, MN 55063
When: April 18, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm dinner; 6:30 meeting
Reservations are requested for personal one on one's with Helga at 5pm or 6pm. Additional time slots will follow the presentation. Sign ups available at the event.
For more information or questions, contact Snake River Cattlemen's Association:
Joan Foster, President
414-899-9012 or email: jellenfoster87@gmail.com
Steve Kruse, Vice President
612-940-7083 or email: kruseherefords@q.com
Pine County Master Gardeners Plant Sale
- Great plants – reasonably priced!
- Featuring Natives, Perennials, Heirloom vegetables, and Specialty Plants!
- Garden Treasures Tent
- Bring your gardening questions to our “Ask a Master Gardener” experts!
This will be an opportunity to purchase native wildflower plants, rosemary, basil, cilantro, and peppers from Glacial Ridge Growers. It will also be a chance to purchase perennial and specialty plants grown by certified University of Minnesota Extension Pine County Master Gardeners. Funds raised are used for community events and educational training. We hope to see you there!
Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 06:30 AM
Pine County Fair, 4-H Exhibit Building, 1st Avenue Northwest, Pine City, MN, USA,
Extension calendar of events
Contact
Katie Hagen, Ag Educator, 320-591-1662
Kristin Riley, SNAP-Ed Educator, 320-591-1656
Terry Salmela, Master Gardener Coordinator, 320-591-1653
Joanna Gechas, Administrative Assistant, 320-591-1651
D. Craig Taylor, Interim NE Regional Director
Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/local/pine
Location: 635 Northridge Drive Northwest, Pine City, MN, USA
Phone: 320-591-1650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt
Twitter: @UMNExt