Guest: Larry Cleverley, Cleverley Farms

8694 Hwy. 330 N., Mingo, IA 50168

Cleverley Farms;

Cleverley Farms Facebook page;

Cleverley Farms Local Harvest page

Telephone Guest: Dr. Jim Pease

Have you ever wondered what is going on below the ripples and waves of your local pond? There is a fascinating community of creatures to discover during “Pond Life 101” presented by Dr. Jim Pease, ISU Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Biology. This free special event, sponsored by The Des Moines Founders Garden Club, The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Des Moines Park and Recreation will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m. at the Levitt Auditorium in the Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave.

Growing Onions in the Home Garden, HHPN 2000

Planting a Home Vegetable Garden, PM0819

Home Landscape Planning Worksheet: 12 Steps to a Functional Design, PM0612

• ISU Extension, Polk County
• ISU Extension Publications
• ISU Horticulture & Home Pest Newsletter
• ISU Climatology
• ISU Extension Forestry 
• ISU Plant Pathology
• ISU Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic
• ISU Agronomy yesterday's soil temperatures by county
• Reiman Gardens

Orchid Fest at Reiman Gardens!

Saturday and Sunday, February 11th & 12th is Orchid Fest at Reiman Gardens in Ames.  Beautiful orchids for sale, classes, workshops and a warm tropical environment.  Vist this website to learn more.

Growing Tomatoes in a Container

Eileen and Aaron have not tried these yet - let us know what you think?

Grow Bags

Simple Assembly Light Cart

One way to create a light stand for seed starting from off the shelf parts. Drill a hole for the eyebolt to hang chain.

Ventilated plastic shelf

48 inch shoplights

small eyebolt, s-hooks, hanging chain

of course, you'll need a GFCI circuit, extension cords, and any other bells and whistles you'd like (timers, heat pads, plant trays, etc.)

Books

The New Seed Starters Handbook, Nancy Bubel

From Seed to Bloom, Eileen Powell or 2004 ...A-Z Guide....

Making More Plants, 2012 edition, Ken Druse

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Edition, Norman C. Deno

Seed Start 2012    View Document

One source for seeds & seed starting products: JL Hudson, Seedsman

Enjoy!                     

Guest: Lisa Orgler, Lecturer, Garden Designer

Department of Horticulture
129 Horticulture Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1100

Phone: 515-294-6375
Fax: 515-294-0730
Email: lorgler@iastate.edu

Lisa suggests several online design resources to help your with garden design: Pinterest; Google Sketch-up

These resources are recommended by Lisa also: Home Landscape - Understanding the Basics of Landscape Design

Learn more about the Landscape Architecture Program and Horticulture Program at Iowa State University. 

Lisa discussed bubble diagrams as a place to start with designing your home landscape.  Thomas Church is well-known for using these principles.

Visit Lisa's blog to learn more about garden design - Topiary and Tiramisu

"NEW" 2012 USDA Agricultural Research Service, interactive USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 

Jason Samenow, Washington Post, comments on the new USDA map

Guests:

Lynn Heuss, Program Coordinator, Women Food and Agriculture Network

515.201.9405 - email

The conference featured many local producers including the Berry Patch in Nevada, IA

For those interested in turning their garden into a small buisness this class by Penny Brown Huber is a wonderful resource.

Debra Eschmeyer, Foodcorps  &  Harvest Sun Farm, New Knoxville, Ohio

In our discussion of edible landscapes rhubarb came up - here is a resource on all things rhubarb.

Iowa Prairie Network Annual Meeting, Saturday, January 28, 2012

Free, Noon to 5 PM, DMACC

Learn To Identify Winter Trees, Brenton Arboretum, Saturday January 28, 10 AM to Noon

Members free, Non-members: $5.00.

Don Engebretsen, The Renegade Gardener

A good source of local foods recommended by Lynn - Tall Grass Grocery Coop

Guest: Everdina Butler

Growing a Greener World, Episode 203 "Greenhouses for Year-Round Growing"

Interview with home and commercial greenhouse growers.

Everdinea has used Janco Grennhouse as a source for her greenhouse

Growing a Greener World website

Charley's Greenhouse & Garden

Farmtek Greenhouses & Accessories

Beginning Beekeeping Courses to Be Held Across the State

Aaron just put up his own home greenhouse this fall - It is a kit greenhouse from Sunshine Greenhouse.

Random: Dandelight by Drift, The Netherlands

The sell the single bloom, and create intricate large sculptures by massing them: check out "Fragile Future III" under Projects & Expos