Pancakes are made at the Maple Syrup Festival in 2008. This year’s festival is March 6-7 at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids. (Gazette photo/Cliff Jette)
Spring may still seem maddeningly far away, but gardeners are already gearing up for the season. Following are gardening and environmental events in Eastern Iowa during March 2010:
Tues., March 2, 6-7:30 p.m., New Pioneer Food Co-op, Coralville. “Raising Urban Chickens,” with Misha Goodman of Iowa City Animal Services will outline what is needed for a suitable chicken house, laying nest boxes, and backyard enclosure. Misha will offer helpful tips on chick sources, proper feeding, keeping the hens safe from predators, and what to do with chicken waste. Refreshments will be served.
Sat., March 6, 1-3 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, Free film screening: Establishing a Food Forest the Permaculture Way. In partnership with Iowa City Environmental Films and ECO Iowa City, Backyard Abundance will screen the film Establishing a Food Forest. In the film, world renown permaculture designer Geoff Lawton, demonstrates how to design and implement highly productive food systems that require very little maintenance and energy. Geoff walks us through a forest of food, giving us a rich example of a new way to sustainably cultivate food. Visit YouTube to see a 2-minute introduction to the film. The screening will be followed by a seed swap. Seed donations are great, but not necessary. This presentation is part of the Seeds of Sustainability event series.
Sat., March 6, 7:30 p.m., The Linn County Conservation Department and Cedar Amateur Astronomers Club are hosting a program entitled, “The Case for Pluto,” at the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center near Mount Vernon. Never again can Pluto be the smallest or the ninth planet. Can’t dwarf planets be planets, too? In “The Case for Pluto,” MSNBC Science Editor Alan Boyle shows that the history of planetary science never did run smooth, previews the wonders at the edge of the solar system and beyond, and makes the case that Pluto and its little pals deserve to be restored to an honored place in the planetary lineup. As MSNBC’s science editor, Alan Boyle writes about space, the physical sciences, archaeology, and anthropology. The Observatory is located on Ivanhoe Road, two miles east of Hwy 1, south of Mount Vernon.
Sat., March 6 and Sun., March 7, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids, 27th annual Maple Syrup Festival. Warming weather is causing maple sap to rise. Celebrate this early sign of spring at our Maple Syrup Festival! Enjoy pancakes, sausage, real Nature Center maple syrup, live music, and syruping demonstrations. Advance Tickets: Adults: $6.50, Children 3-12 yrs: $3.50. At-the-door tickets cost an extra $.50 each. Age 2 & Under: Free.
Sun., March 7, 2-4 p.m., Iowa City Public Library. Kelly Norris is a horticulturist, plant breeder, award winning author and nationally acclaimed speaker. Let Kelly take you through the four seasons in the garden, approaching design and plant selection in a way that will enrich your gardening experience. Kelly will sell his book, The Iowa Gardener’s Travel Guide, offering exciting public and private gardens and nurseries in Iowa you may want to visit. Hosted by Project GREEN. Cost: Free.
Tues., March 9, doors open at 6:30 p.m., Johnson County Heritage Trust’s 27th annual Prairie Preview, at Parkview Evangelical Free Church, 15 Foster Rd., Iowa City. Writer and photographer Bill Witt will present Enchantment by Prairie, weaving together visions of our natural prairies, both past and present, through his beautiful photographs and thoughtful prose. The Prairie Preview also includes information and displays from local environmental organizations and agencies. Doors open to the public at 6:30 p.m. for registration and to view the exhibits, with Witt’s presentation at 7:30. Refreshments will be provided following his presentation. Contact Tammy Richardson (319) 338-7030 or visit www.jcht.org for additional information. The Prairie Preview is sponsored by the Johnson County Heritage Trust, Friends of Hickory Hill Park, Project GREEN, Four Seasons Garden Club, Environmental Advocates, Johnson County Songbird Project, Johnson County Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Thurs., March 11, 6-7:30 p.m., New Pioneer Food Co-op, Coralville, “We Love Backyard Chickens,” with Stacey Driscoll and Alicia Diehl of IC Friends of Urban Chickens, will take a light-hearted look at the joys and challenges of raising hens within city limits. How can we as a community boost local food production by supporting the backyard chickens’ legal issues? Refreshments prepared by Rachel Morey, co-founder of Cedar Rapid’s Citizens for the Legalization of Urban Chickens, will be served.
Fri., March 12, 7 p.m., Indian Creek Nature Center, Night Walks: Waning Crescent Moon Walk. The waning crescent moon slips toward new moon as the earth turns toward the vernal equinox. A warming south wind softens the crust of snow. Animals migrate and spring peepers call. Join us while we wander the trails and take in the night sky. Dress warmly for these walks on Nature Center trails. We have an indoor alternative in case of cloudy skies. M Adult: $3, NM Adult: $5, Child: $1. Indian Creek Nature Center · 6665 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids. Registration/information: 319-362-0664.
Fri., March 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m., (registration at 5:30 p.m.) University of Iowa Pomerantz Center, 21 E. Market Street, Iowa City, Presentation: Regenerating Communities, Ecosystems and Landscapes by Design, presented by Backyard Abundance. $10 per person. Pay at the door or pre-register online at www.BackyardAbundance.org. Free to University of Iowa Students. The keynote presentation will be given by Dave Jacke, award winning author of Edible Forest Gardens. How can we regenerate healthy human communities and natural ecosystems while meeting our own needs? What is the future of food in an era of economic disruption, peak oil, and climate chaos? Healthy forests maintain, fertilize, and renew themselves naturally, while creating habitats of high productivity and deep beauty. These ecosystems can serve as models for garden and culture design and offer the same benefits. Edible forest gardens mimic the structure and function of natural forests and grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and fun! The evening will end with a panel discussion about bringing sustainability to our community. Panelists include Liz Christiansen, University of Iowa Sustainability Coordinator, Jason Grimm, Iowa Valley RC&D Food Systems Planner, Dave Jacke, author and ecological designer, and Brenda Nations, Iowa City Environmental Coordinator.
Sat., March 13, 7:30 p.m., The Linn County Conservation Department and the Cedar Amateur Astronomers Club will host an astronomy program, The Astronomy of Star Trek, at the Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center near Mount Vernon. In the early years of the Space Age, Gene Roddenberry envisioned a time when humankind peacefully traveled to the stars and explored our galaxy while last year a feature movie breathed new life into the decades old adventure. Beam over for an encore and updated talk about where the writers got the science right and where they got it a bit wrong. Weather permitting, observing through the club telescopes will follow. Donations accepted. The Observatory is located on Ivanhoe Road, two miles west of Hwy. 1 south of Mount Vernon.
Sat., March 13, 1-2 p.m., (Also Fri., March 19, 2-3 p.m.; Sat., March 20, 1-2 p.m.; Fri., March 26, 2-3 p.m.) Indian Creek Nature Center, It’s Maple Syruping Time! Enjoy a guided maple syruping experience to learn about American Indian and early Colonial sugarmaking. Learn to identify a maple tree in winter, discover how maple trees make sweet sap, use the sugarmaker’s tools to tap a tree, and visit a Vermont-style sugarhouse to learn how sap becomes syrup. End with a taste of maple syrup on ice cream. $3/person. (319) 362-0664.
Sat., March 13 and Sun., March 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Backyard Abundance Workshop: Principles and Practices of Regenerative Design. University of Iowa Pomerantz Center, 21 E. Market Street, Iowa City. $110 per person ($125 after March 1.) Pre-registration required at www.BackyardAbundance.org This weekend workshop will be led by Dave Jacke, award winning author of Edible Forest Gardens, Chris Jackson, ecological landscape designer and educator. The workshop will give you the solid base of a holistic, ecological worldview, while simultaneously offering practical solutions that demonstrate how we can create a sustainable, abundant community. Ecological principles form the foundation of this way of seeing, and offer concrete directions for finding solutions to multiple problems with maximum effect for least effort. These principles apply at all scales, from your garden bed, to your neighborhood, to cities, to whole regions, and in every realm of human endeavor.
Sat., March 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., March 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., WMT Lawn, Garden and Home Show, Hawkeye Downs Expo Center, Cedar Rapids. Admission: $1; kids 10 and under, free. Seminars include: (Saturday) 9 a.m., Peck’s Flower Shop and Garden Center - New and Unusual Plants for 2010; 11:30 a.m., Master Gardeners - Container Gardening; 1:30 p.m., Granite Transformations - Transform Your Kitchen Without Demolition and Downtime; 2:30 p.m., Master Gardeners - Hybrid Lilies; 3:30 p.m., Blairs Ferry True Value Hardware -CFL Light Bulbs. (Sunday) 11 a.m., Master Gardeners - Creating Backyard Habitat; 1 p.m., Master Gardeners - Gardening With Iowa Native Plants; 2 p.m., Rabe Hardware – Geo Thermal. More information: www.wmtradio.com
Mon., March 15, 6:30-8 pm, Build Native Bee Nests, Prairiewoods, Hiawatha, Facilitators: Traci Dunkel and Mary Ellen Dunford. You can encourage solitary native bees to nest in your vegetable or flower garden by constructing a simple nest out of reeds, pithy stems, canes or bamboo. Solitary native bees pollinate everything from fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. Solitary bees are naturally docile and do not swarm. Since bees are in a state of decline you can bolster their habitat by creating an easy to build bee nest. Fee: $15 includes supplies. See: www.prairiewoods.org
Thurs., March 18, 6- 8 p.m., Linn County Master Gardeners Organic Gardening Class, large conference room at Linn County Extension, 3279 7th Avenue, Suite 140, Marion. Master Gardeners Ellen Skripsky and Phil Pfister will teach Eco-Friendly, “Grow Green – Save Green” organic gardening techniques and methods. Gardeners will learn how to grow vegetables with companions, controlling insects and money saving gardening tips. We can all benefit by learning and applying these techniques to our gardens. The class is free. Register by calling the Extension office at 319- 377 – 9839.
Fri. and Sat., March 19 and 20, Bridge View Center, Ottumwa, 2010 All-Iowa Horticulture Expo. The Iowa State Horticultural Society, 26 affiliate organizations and Iowa State University Extension present a gala exhibition of horticulture, including hands-on demonstrations, lectures and diverse trade show exhibits showcasing the many facets of Iowa horticulture. A children’s garden will offer crafts and activities for children and families from 11 a.m. 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The ISU Insect Zoo will expose children to the lives of insects for two hours each day and Iowa’s Butterfly Lady Kathleen Ziemer will make a special appearance on Saturday afternoon from 1:30-2:00 pm. A gardener’s boutique will feature plants introduced by Terra Nova Nursery and grown by the Iowa State Horticulture Club. Dan Heims, President of Terra Nova Nurseries will feature many of these plants in his Saturday keynote presentation. For information about hotel accommodations, maps, and programs at the Expo, visit www.iowahort.org
Sat., March 20, 10 a.m., Culver’s Garden Center & Greenhouse, 1682 Dubuque Road in Marion. Hands-on workshop: Starting Seeds Indoors. Learn how to start vegetable and flower seeds indoors to extend the growing season. $10 workshop fee per participant covers instruction, 10 starter pots, soil and seeds. Limited to 15 people. Register by calling (319) 377-4195. Payment due upon registration.
Mon., March 22, 6:30-8 p.m., Grow Indoor Microgreens, Prairiewoods, Hiawatha. Facilitator: Mary Ellen Dunford. Learn how to grow nutritious indoor microgreens from mesclum seed mixes. Microgreens are dense with vitamins and other nutrients. They can be eaten as a snack or served on salads and sandwiches. Each participant will make a mini container garden planted with microgreens to take home. Fee: $15, includes supplies. Call: 395-6700. See: www.prairiewoods.org
NOTE: Register for this event by March 19: Tuesday, March 23, 6-8pm, Fruit Tree Pruning, Prairiewoods, Hiawatha. Facilitator: Patrick O’Malley. Fee: $15. This class will focus on the pruning and training of fruit trees to encourage a bountiful supply of fresh fruit. Topics will include: tools, strategy behind pruning, which times of year to prune and train, and differences among types of fruit trees. Most of the time will be outside using the various fruit trees at Prairiewoods as live examples. This class would be a very appropriate venue to get those questions about fruit trees answered that you have wondered about for years. Instructor will be Dr. Patrick O’Malley, Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension. If weather is adversely cold and windy the class will be moved indoors. Please pre-register by Friday March 19 at 395-6700 or www.prairiewoods.org
Thurs., March 25, 7 p.m., Marion Public Library. Free program: No space for a garden? You can plant enough vegetables in a four-by-four foot garden to feed two people for the season. Hate the weeding and bug control? Having trouble getting up from the ground? Raised bed gardening is for you. Master Gardener Deb Walser, who has been gardening in raised beds for 15 years, will give a Power Point presentation, “Raised Garden Beds,” in the meeting rooms of the Marion Public Library. Her program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Marion Parks and the Friends of the Marion Library. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Fri., March 26, 7:30-8:30 a.m., The Chamber’s Agribusiness/Bioscience Committee 2010 Breakfast Series, Hills Bank and Trust Company, 1009 2nd St, Coralville. From Field to Table: Homegrown in Johnson County. Jeff Quint, Cedar Ridge Vineyards, Winery & Distillery; Jerry Steffensmeier, Roberts Dairy; Mike Klauke, Syngenta. $10 per session for members/$12 per session for future members. Includes complimentary breakfast. RSVP by the Wednesday before event to rsvp@iowacityarea.com or 319-337-9637.
Fri., March 26, 7-9 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, Room A. ECO Iowa City Film: Blue Gold-World Water Wars. The energy crisis might just be trumped by another problem … water. Across the globe, fresh water is becoming scarcer because of development, agriculture, pollution, and a growing population. This film includes several stories of people intent on keeping clean water a basic human right. Popcorn will be provided. For more information, contact 356-5200, opt. 5; refquest@icpl.org; or visit http://www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com/
Sat., March 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Indian Creek Nature Center, Prairie Burn School. Participants will learn about the history and role of fire in prairie, how to set goals and develop burn plans, safe techniques for prescribed fires, fire equipment, and how to conduct a prairie burn. Wear old, natural fiber clothes. Bring leather gloves, a water bottle, and a sack lunch. Register by 4 PM Thursday, Mar. 25. M: $12, NM: $18.(319) 362-0664.
Sat., March 27, 10 a.m., Forever Green Garden Center, 125 Forevergreen Rd. Coralville. Seminar: Caring for your landscape. This seminar will cover important information on proper care and maintenance to keep your lawn & landscape healthy and looking their best. Geared for homeowners this will offer tips and information for everyone from first time homeowners to avid gardeners. This is a great way for people who want to save money by doing their own maintenance can learn how to do the job right. Ted Knight of Forever Green Garden Center will lead this discussion. Ted is an ISA certified arborist, is a adjunct teacher at Kirkwood community college and has worked in the landscape and maintenance field for 12 years. Cost: Free to the public. Contact: Ted Knight or Lucy Hershberger: (319)-626-2774.
Sat. March 27, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun., March 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Vinton’s 1st Annual Home & Garden Show, Vinton/Shellsburg High School Cafeteria. Gear up for Spring Planting! There will be a number of local businesses available to discuss construction and remodeling needs and the local Garden Clubs will also be available to answer your plant care questions. Sponsored by Kurt’s Enterprises & Vinton Unlimited. Admission: $2.50.
Sun., March 28, 2 p.m., Indian Creek Nature Center, Green & Simple: Edible Landscaping. Edible landscaping is about yards that taste as good as they look! Judy Kash will provide suggestions and encouragement for growing your own fresh food—even with limited time, experience, money and garden space. Seed Exchange: Bring your extra garden seeds to share. (319) 362-0664.
Sun., March 28, 1-4 p.m., Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Road, Hiawatha, Linn County’s First Local Farmer & CSA Fair. Become a member of the local food community! At Linn County’s First Local Farmer & CSA Fair, you will meet a variety of local farmers who will share information with you about their farms and the products they sell. Learn how to incorporate fresh, Iowa food, and an appreciation of local growers, into your life. In addition to seeing the friendly faces of farmers you know from your local farmers market, at the fair you will meet CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farmers. A CSA membership provides you with four to five months of delicious, healthy produce. In a CSA, you can become part of a larger community of farmers and consumers where you will find: Weekly fresh produce; Fruits and vegetables in season; Guaranteed income for farmers; Proper farmland stewardship. The free event is co-sponsored by the Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, and edible Iowa River Valley Magazine. Phone: (319) 395-6700.