Pine Community Connector
April 2023
Welcome to the Pine Community Connector
Farm & Tractor Safety Survey
AFNR (Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources) is gathering interest for putting on a Farm & Tractor Safety. The online course will start in May and the field days for learning to drive tractors, certification, and practice other farm safety strategies will take place sometime in June.
We are asking that any youth ages 14+ take our survey so we can gather information on those who may be interested in participating. April 7 is the deadline to respond to the interest survey.
Cloverbud Saturday April 15
Ready, set, build! Cloverbuds (Grades K-2) are invited to join us in April to explore engineering from the perspective of The Three Little Pigs. We'll discover the engineering design process while trying to outsmart the Big Bad Wolf and enjoy a snack and recreation.
When: April 15, 2023 from 9:30-11a.m.
Where: North Pine Government Center, 1602 MN-23, Sandstone, MN 55072
Cost: Free
Not a 4-H member? You're still welcome to join us! Youth who are not members will need a responsible adult in attendance with them. Register now at https://z.umn.edu/PineCloverbuds
Questions? Contact Sarah Odendahl, Pine County 4-H Extension Educator, at sodendah@umn.edu or 320-591-1654
4-H Dog Training starts April 17
Want to improve your dog training skills? Pine County 4-H Dog Training is for youth in grades 3-13 and a canine companion.
Obedience training will be held at the Hinckley-Finlayson High School Monday nights until May 22. Join us at 6 p.m. for beginning obedience or at 6:30 p.m. for puppy class (dogs under six months).
Dog training will continue after Memorial Day at the fairgrounds in Pine City.
Questions? Contact Sarah Odendahl, Pine County 4-H Extension Educator, at sodendah@umn.edu or 320-591-1654
County Fair premium book
Are you ready for the county fair? Our premium book is!
Visit z.umn.edu/PinePremium at any time to view an up-to-date copy of the Pine County 4-H fair premium book. The premium book contains important rules and information for participating in county fair events, including a schedule.
This year's premium book is fully updated to align with Minnesota 4-H project learning and for increased readability. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Odendahl, Pine County 4-H Extension Educator, at sodendah@umn.edu or 320-591-1654.
Club leaders will receive two printed copies of the premium book for club references next week. If families would like to request a printed copy for their own use, please contact Roxanne at 320-591-1651 or rlorvis@umn.edu
Pine County youth take 1st at 4-H Regional Project Bowl
The team now advances to State competition on April 15 in Sauk Rapids
Four members of Pine County 4-H are celebrating after taking first place in the Regional Project Bowl competition on Saturday, March 11 in Hastings. The team, competing in the Senior division of the Dog category, beat out three other teams and will advance to the State Project Bowl competition on April 15 in Sauk Rapids.
Hundreds of 4-H youth teams participate in regional competitions held throughout the state in March with top teams qualifying to compete in the state bowl. Each competition includes junior and senior divisions. Teams are quizzed in one-on-one and open rounds. The first participant with the correct answer earns points for their team. 4-H State Project Bowl winners in dairy, general livestock, horse and poultry go on to national project bowl competitions.
“Through the 4-H Project Bowl program, youth have the opportunity to partner together with other youth and learn about different animal science areas. Participants also work on improving their communication skills and building meaningful relationships with their peers, which can contribute to their future success,” said Sharon Davis, 4-H Animal Science Director.
Pine County 4-H Extension educator Sarah Odendahl says of the team “We are thrilled for our 4-H members and their success at the Regional Project Bowl. Together, they have more than 20 years of experience with Dog Project Bowl. They work together, support each other, and have built their friendships through encouraging each other to be their best selves.”
To learn more about 4-H Project Bowl, visit our website or contact Pine County 4-H Extension Educator Sarah Odendahl at 320-591-1654.
About Extension 4-H: 4-H is a youth development program of the University of Minnesota Extension. Available for youth beginning in kindergarten, 4-H’ers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, leadership & civic engagement, animal science, creative arts and much more. Through 4-H’s learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities. Learn more about Minnesota 4-H here.
2023 Farm Resource Guide now available
To request a full copy of this document, email Dave Bau at bauxx003@umn.edu. The email version is free, a print version is available for $31.
Helping pollinators was keynote topic at Pine County Horticulture Day
One out of three mouthfuls of our food and drink require a pollinator while 85% of the world’s 352,000 plants depend on insects for pollination. Those were comments made to 140 people by Alyssa Bloss, keynote speaker at the 19th Annual Pine County Master Gardener Horticulture Day, Saturday, March 25 at the Pine City High School.
Bloss who is a Conservation Specialist with the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, shared ways how people can help pollinators to survive and thrive. They include:
- Plant NATIVE pollinator PLANTINGS
- Create a DIVERSITY of BLOOMS from Spring to Fall
- PROTECT Nests and Egg-Laying SITES
- LEAVE overwintering HABITAT
- DON’T Use Pesticides.
She went on to share projects that home and landowners can do to help pollinators. These practices will also improve soil health and water quality. They include pollinator rain gardens to capture storm water runoff; pollinator meadows; pollinator pockets; native shoreline buffers; and bee lawns. She concluded by going through the steps involved in completing a conservation project. They are site selection, site preparation, native seed selection, seeding time and methods, plant selection, planting maintenance the first, second and third year, and seasonal maintenance.
Participants had the opportunity to attend two of four breakout sessions. Kathy Yerich, a co-author of the “Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest” field guide covered how to look for mushrooms in the wild, where they grow and how to identify them. She told about which ones are safe to eat and which are not. Of the estimated 5,000 mushrooms in Minnesota at least 250 are poisonous, six are lethal, probably 2,000 are edible and 20-30 are commonly eaten.
Larry Weber, author of the book “Spiders of the Northwoods” covered spiders that are common in the garden. He explained what is and is not a spider and the life cycle of typical local spiders. He told where to find spiders in the garden and home, how to identify them, and about their amazing ability to create a new web daily if needed to trap other insects for food.
Jackie Froemming, University of Minnesota Extension Educator covered basic botany for gardeners. She presented interesting information about the parts of plants, their purpose, and function. She covered roots, stems, leaves, and flowers and how soil, nutrients, competition, water, and sunlight affect their growth. She said the following pollinators are attracted to these colored flowers: Butterflies and birds - red and yellow flowers, bees - blue and violet flowers, moths, and bats - white flowers.
Bill Pederson and Sandy McDonald, Ramsey County Master Gardeners covered “Climate Resilient Gardens.” They gave these tips for gardeners to help deal with dramatic temperature swings, heat waves, floods, drought, and severe weather. Short-term: keep plants healthy and well-watered, protect and cover the soil with mulch and growing crops, invest in low- tunnels, windbreaks, stakes, monitor rainfall and new pests. Long-term: change at-risk microclimates; reduce pesticides; increase soil organic matter; store water on property; use composting and more person-powered tools; grow more types of plants, long-lived, and native plants.
The day included eight garden vendors with a variety of garden related items to sell, lunch, and door prizes.
Composting adds organic matter to your soil
Composting is a process that allows naturally occurring microbes to convert yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, to a useful organic soil amendment or mulch.
Incorporating compost into light, sandy soil helps it hold both moisture and nutrients while adding it to heavy soil improves drainage.
The microorganisms responsible for decomposition need oxygen, water, and nitrogen.
Particle size also affects efficiency. The smaller the plant pieces, the more rapidly they will break down. Use a shredder or power mower to chop up leaves and small twigs before adding them to the pile.
Contain your compost in some type of structure 3 to 5 feet wide.
Put your compost pile close to where you will use it. Away from drying winds, but in partial sunlight to help heat the pile. Do not compost pet feces, meat, bones, grease, whole eggs and dairy products. Do not compost diseased or insect-infested plants and weeds.
Many organic materials are compostable besides grass and leaves:
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Faded flowers
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Lake plants
- Leftover plants at the end of the gardening season
- Nonwoody shrub trimmings or twigs less than one-fourth inch in diameter
- Shredded newspaper (black and white print)
- Small amounts of wood ash and sawdust
- Straw
- Weeds that have not gone to seed
Sawdust requires the addition of extra nitrogen. Wood ash raises compost alkalinity and may result in nitrogen loss from the pile.
There should be little need to compost grass, since it is safe to leave clippings on the lawn if you mow regularly and remove only one-third of the blade length each time.
Build your compost pile in layers. Begin with eight to ten inches of leaves, grass or plant trimmings.
Water it to the point of being moist, but not soggy.
Add a nitrogen source, such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or an inexpensive high nitrogen lawn fertilizer without herbicide. Sprinkle the pile with one-third to one-half cup of fertilizer per 25 square feet of surface area (a 5' x 5' bin).
If you have access to livestock manure, you can use a two-inch layer of manure as your nitrogen source.
You may choose to add a one-inch layer of soil or completed compost over the nitrogen to increase the number of decomposing microbes in the pile. Most leaves and plant scraps have enough microorganisms to get the job done without the addition of soil or compost.
Repeat these layers until the pile reaches a height of five feet, watering each time you add new layers.
An active compost pile will heat to somewhere between 130° and 160° Fahrenheit.
As the center cools, turn the pile to help speed decomposition and reduce any foul odors. Do this once or twice a month.
Continue to water your compost pile periodically to keep it moist but not soggy.
You can add a little fresh material when you turn the pile, but, you are better off beginning a new pile.
A well-managed compost pile will be ready in two to four months in the warm season, whereas an untended pile will take a year or more to decompose.
When completed, your compost pile will be about half its original height, and will have a pleasant, earthy smell.
For more information go to: https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/composting-home-gardens#composting-structures-882310
Spring flood preparation tips
Start small and take one action at a time to begin preparing for a disaster. Visit the Extension website for more information.
Fridays with a Forester
To register visit extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/fridays-forester
Educational Opportunities
Creating wildlife habitat on your property
Extension educators and local wildlife agencies partner for a five-session online webinar series exploring how you can create wildlife habitat on your property in Minnesota. Each session will focus on a different aspect of wildlife habitat management for different species groups. We'll discuss selecting a site, as well as the development, establishment and maintenance of habitat for each group.
You will receive instructions for accessing these online events prior to each webinar. All webinars will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, April 3, April 10 and April 17.
Audience: This series is for anyone in Minnesota with a farm, woodlands, lowlands or a backyard.
Cost: $100
Registration: Participants that live or own land in St. Louis, Carlton, Cook, Pine or Isanti county, please contact Mercedes Moffett, moffe029@umn.edu or 218-384-3511 before registering.
Habitat for aquatic species, April 3, 2023
There is a wide variety of aquatic species that live in or around Minnesota's water sources. Specialists will discuss the habitat needs of fish, reptiles and amphibians during this online wildlife webinar. Aquatic habitat varies widely in scale from micro-habitat under a submerged log to macro-habitat in a pool to the broadest scale of an entire river system. Different species require different locations and their habitat needs may change as they move through their life cycles.
Habitat for mammals, April 10, 2023
Mammals inhabit every terrestrial biome on earth, including deserts and polar ice caps. In Minnesota, we are fortunate to lie in the center of four major North American biomes: aspen parklands, prairie grasslands, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest. The tall aspen parklands of Northwest Minnesota are host to wild elk herds, while in the Southeast the gray fox thrives. The prairie grassland is home to the badger and pocket gopher, while the coniferous forest hides the moose and gray wolf. Depending on where your property is located in Minnesota, learn how to attract native wildlife through habitat development with wildlife biologists from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Habitat for deer, April 17, 2023
White-tailed deer are one of the most popular mammals in Minnesota because they can be found throughout the state. Historically, they could not survive in the deep snow of Northern Minnesota during the time of the settlers, but now they flourish throughout the state. Extension educators will explain how you can create habitat with access to food and shelter for these roaming white-tails, so they might settle down on your property for a bit longer than usual.
Willow River Seed Starting Class
Have you ever wanted to grow your own vegetables from seed but do not know where to start? Join Pine County Master Gardeners for a hands-on seminar where they will cover all you need to know for a successful germination.
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Willow River High School, Willow River, MN 55795
Fee: $9/person; REGISTER BY APRIL 17
Topics Include:
- What are seeds and why germinate indoors
- Soil prep and functional containers
- Sowing, seedling care, and more!
Instructors: University of Minnesota Extension Pine County Master Gardener Volunteers Deborah Konieska, Diana Waschenbecker, and Nate Moyer.
Register for the Seed Starting Workshop by contacting jengleson@isd577.org, call 218-372-3131 ext. 159, or visit willowriverce.weebly.com.
Hinckley Home Composting: It's Not Rocket Science
Composting yard and kitchen waste has many benefits and can be done easily and inexpensively. Learn five different methods of composting from the simple to complex that can fit your budget, space, and time. Learn what materials you can compost and what you should avoid. Recycle your waste, improve your garden soil, and get free mulch! Pine County Extension Master Gardener, Lynda Bennett will share from years of experience everything you need to do your own composting. There is no charge for this class.
Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Community Ed Room 3, Hinckley, MN 55037
Instructor: Lynda Bennett, University of Minnesota Extension Pine County Master Gardener Volunteer
Contact Hinckley-Finlayson Community Education at 320-384-7325 for more information.
Living Wreath Class
Want to learn how to make a beautiful living wreath to decorate your home?
Join Pine County Master Gardener Volunteer Ann Mlaskoch on Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. in HS Room 131 at Willow River Area School.
Fee is $17 per person and includes all supplies for a make and take wreath. Please bring a box or bag to put your wreath in.
Please register and pay by Friday, May 12, 2023. Register early, class maximum is 17 students.
Register by sending your name, phone number, email address and payment to WRAS, Attn: Jessica Engleson, 8142 Pine Street, Willow River, MN 55795. Checks made payable to Willow River Area School.
Questions? Call Jessica at 218-372-2131 ext. 159.
Foraging for Edibles on May 23
Minnesota’s forests provide a diversity of natural resources throughout the year. Many of these resources, such as wood, berries, and plants, can be harvested for wreaths, baskets, jam or dinner.
Join Extension Forestry Educator, Gary Wyatt, on Tuesday, May 23 from 1-3 p.m. at the St. Croix State Park Visitors Center to learn the what, why and how of responsible harvesting and understand the biology and ecology of harvested plants.
Audience: Anyone interested in learning about foraging for plants and fungi that can be eaten or used as decoration.
Cost: $20 (includes The Minnesota Harvester Handbook)
Pagami Creek fire symposium April 13 and 14 in Ely
Visit https://sfec.cfans.umn.edu/events/pagami-fire-2023 to register.
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
Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 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
Roxanne Orvis, 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