The 2012 garden season has started in Minnesota, whereas the program in Haiti is winding down with end of season reports due in July. Haitian gardeners take a break in July and August, the hottest months of the tropical year, and renew their programs in September.

In Minnesota we are looking for a warm productive, moist growing season. Gardening World Wide offers continued support throughout the season via monthly 3rd Monday gatherings and tours and personal home garden visits.

Grants available for development in seed saving, rain water saving for the garden, pure water for home usage, sewing protective plant coverings and more.Contact us for details.

Gardeners are excited this year due to the warm season start-up and thus we are offering an OPEN GREENHOUSE. Plant Sharing, total garden sharing, on 2 consecutive Monday evenings from 5-9pm at 4936 54th Street NW in Maple Lake, May 14 and May 21, 2012.

Bring your excess plants and pots (we always need replenishment) and come to share plants for the season, seeds, trellis systems, protective covers and a 7 pm sharing session with fellow gardeners. Refreshments provided.  Families welcome. 

Also, visit gardens at 4936 and 208, the Maple Lake Elementary School Garden and the display garden at the Irish Blessings Coffee Shop at 120 Oak Avenue, which is County 8 South of Hwy 55.

Together, let us make this the best growing season ever! Look for more growing activity to come.

On-site Presentations
To have a Square Foot Gardening Presentation in your area, please have 15 interested persons come together to select a date and invite Pat and Connie for a Seminar.

Save the Date:
•  Mini Market - Sunday, September 9, 2012
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Reserve your spot to purchase and mix garden soil! Join us for a mixing session where we will provide the ingredients for Mel's famous gardening mix. The cost of the mix is $25 per Square Foot Garden box.

About the mix
A  4’ x 4’ holds 8 cubic feet, 1cf is 8 gallons. Because peat moss expands, you will need about ten (10) 5-gallon buckets/bags/tubs to take home this mix for one garden. We mix for 2 boxes at a time, so 8 cubic feet of the best compost, (4cf leaf compost, 2cf peat soil, 2cf manure compost) + 2.2 cf bag peat moss= 4.4 cf expanded, 3 cf of vermiculite, plus we add some worm castings.  

Mixing location
We mix at our greenhouse at 4936 54th Street NW, 1 mile east of Maple Lake off Highway 55. You can find us between Cenex Country Store and Shell Station, north on Ferman, (gravel Dead End), 1 block, right up the hill on 54th.  

Mixing times
The mixing sessions for the 2012 growing season have been a success with 42 families participating. No more dates are scheduled. Should you desire a mix and are willing to assist in the work, please let us know at pclahr@yahooc.om.