Category Archives: Northfield

Composting on a Grand Scale

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Mary Schier

See the pile of compost in the image at left? That pile represents all of the food waste from St. Olaf College from a year. Amazing. I was one of a dozen or so University of Minnesota-Extension Master Gardeners from … Continue reading →

Posted in Compost, Northfield | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Mary Schier

Today is Arbor Day, the 139-year-old celebration of tree planting in America. All around the state, groups will be giving away trees. I’ll be at Just Food Co-op this afternoon (3:30-6 p.m., or whenever we run out of trees) with … Continue reading →

Posted in Master Gardeners, Northfield, Trees | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Tough Choice for Northfield Gardeners

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Mary Schier

Where to go? Where to go? I’m probably not the only Northfield gardener wondering where to go on Thursday night this week when two excellent garden programs are running opposite each other on opposite ends of downtown. The choices: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Northfield | 1 Comment

The Bright Side of the Blizzard

Posted on December 12, 2010 by Mary Schier

According to weather guru Paul Douglas, the blizzard that paralyzed the southern half of Minnesota and Wisconsin yesterday dumped 11.5 inches of snow on Northfield by 5 p.m. Saturday. My hunch (and my sore back!) suggest it might have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Northfield, Shrubs, Weather | 2 Comments

Northfield Garden Tour Ideas

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Mary Schier

Despite heat and humidity Saturday and intermittent storms Sunday, attendance at the Northfield Garden Tour was high this past weekend. I managed to visit four of the six gardens on the tour and came away with several ideas for my … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Gardening Know-How, Northfield | 4 Comments

Seed Sales Support Library

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Mary Schier

Many gardeners are making their seed selections now and dreaming of this year’s garden — which I know is out there somewhere buried under 3 feet of snow. If you are planning to order seeds, consider ordering them from Botanical … Continue reading →

Posted in Northfield, Seed starting | Leave a comment

Garden Inspiration

Posted on June 25, 2009 by Mary Schier

This week I’ve had the opportunity to visit three stunning private gardens in the Twin Cities. Each of these gardens is on a city lot (although large ones) and is primarily tended by the homeowners. While each is glorious, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden Design, Northfield | 1 Comment

Public Gardening

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Mary Schier

This afternoon about a dozen Friends of the Northfield Public Library spent a few hours weeding the flower beds, planting, trimming shrubs, raking, and just plain sprucing up the area outside of the library. This comes on top of a … Continue reading →

Posted in America in Bloom, Northfield | Leave a comment

Careful Tree Placement and Other Green Ideas

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Mary Schier

In honor of Earth Day, the Northfield News ran several articles on its Green Living page by members of the city Environmental Quality Commission. I’m not on the commission but am a member of a group advising the EQC on … Continue reading →

Posted in Northfield, Trees | 1 Comment

This Year, Plant a Row for the Hungry

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Mary Schier

For 14 years, the Garden Writers Association has asked its members and other active gardeners to Plant a Row for the Hungry. The idea is simple: When planning your vegetable garden, plant more than your family can eat and donate … Continue reading →

Posted in Fruits and Vegetables, Northfield, Plant a Row | 4 Comments