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Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
Till the rain comes tumblin' down
Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own
'Cause the time is close at hand Excerpt from "Garden Song" by David Mallett |
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Learn how to grow mushrooms at home indoors or outdoors, using mushroom grow kits or putting together your own low-tech methods with minimal equipment. Mushrooms and mushroom kits will be available for purchase after the lecture.
Chris Swinson is the CFO (Chief Fungal Officer) of Mycophile's Garden in Grand Rapids. When he's not growing and harvesting mushrooms, he is selling at local markets and conducting classes. |
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Freezing and Dehydrating are two methods of food preservation that don't require require a lot of specialized equipment. We don't always have a surplus of food to process at one time, and freezing is a great method for preserving both small batches or bushels of produce! If you have a dehydrator, that's great! We will discuss how to use it, but you can also accomplish your goals using other methods. There will be a question and answer period following the demonstration, and experienced preservers will have an opportunity to add to the conversation if they so desire. Everyone will leave with an informative handout. |
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CanningIn-Person Monday, July 17, 2023 at 6:30pm Join us as we learn about preserving food by canning using the most up-to-date methods. We will discuss both pressure canning and water-bath canning and how to decide which method to use. Safety, equipment, and recipes will be discussed. There will be a question and answer period following the demonstration, and experienced preservers will have an opportunity to add to the conversation if they so desire. Everyone will leave with an informative handout. |
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In-Person Monday, August 7, 2023 at 6:30 pm
Join Karen Golden and Pam Quackenbush to learn about preserving fruits and vegetables using the ancient method of fermentation. From sauerkraut to hot sauce, if you can grow it, you can probably ferment it! Observe hands-on demonstrations using different equipment and methods to create delightful ferments that are so good for your belly. There will be a question and answer period following the demonstration, and experienced fermenters will have an opportunity to add to the conversation if they so desire. Everyone will leave with an informative handout. |
It's May! Time to direct-sow seeds!
May is when we finish the transition from starting seeds indoors to direct-sowing our warm weather crops. Seeds for squash, melons, beans, and corn can finally go in the ground at the end of May when the soil and the nights are warm. The same goes for quick-growing annual herbs and flowers like zinnias, cosmos, and sunflowers. Visit the seed library for a great selection of free seeds for these items and more. Click Here for a seed-starting timetable for our area. One Seed, One State: This year the MI Seed Library Network has chosen 'Grand Rapids' lettuce as the seed that will be distributed through seed libraries all over Michigan! Visit LTPL for your One Seed, One State seeds. |
 The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. First time users of the Seed Library need to register. You may do so with this form or in-person at the seed library. Once you have registered, you log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet. Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with informative videos! |
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In May: - In early May, finish planting your cool weather vegetables and flowers. Potatoes, onion sets, and seeds for peas, scallions, kohlrabi, radishes, turnips, greens, carrots, beets, peas, and fava beans should be planted, as well as pansies, violas, snapdragons, and sweet peas. Transplant young plants of broccoli, cabbage, celery, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, parsley, and other cool weather crops.
- By late-May, if no frost is in sight, we can finally transplant our crops that love heat: Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, plus various herbs and flowers. Seeds for corn, beans, squash, melons, and cucumbers can be sown directly outdoors.
- Sweet potato slips should be planted last, in late May or the beginning of June. They cannot take any cool weather whatsoever.
- Spring-blooming shrubs such as forsythia should be pruned right after they finish blooming. Pruning later on will affect the next year's flowers.
- When moving houseplants outdoors for the summer, make sure they are acclimated gradually and not put in direct sun.
- Visit the LTPL Seed library and check for seeds you might need. New seeds will be added weekly through May and beyond!
- Information and online resources for starting and saving seed can be found on the LTPL website.
Click Here for a seed-starting timetable for our area
Find additional resources for seed saving here:
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The perfect book to introduce one to the possibilities and applications of fungi for food, medicine, psychedelics and mental health, and environmental remediation both now and in the future. |
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Michigan Gardener Magazine will only be publishing one print magazine in 2023. This issue is scheduled to arrive at LTPL by the first week in May, so watch the shelves in the foyer for its arrival! While you wait, visit their website for their newsletters, both past and present and browse through digital back issues of the print magazine. |
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources! |
Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events. |
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