A day of skillshare classes scheduled July 23

By LESLIE MACKENZIE

Transition Longfellow hosts sustainability activities for the greater Longfellow neighborhood and beyond. Anyone can participate; everyone is welcome. For more info, visit www.transitionlongfellow.org.

A Day of Garden Skillshares, is planned Sat., July 23, 9:30am–3pm, at Gandhi Mahal and gardens in the community.

Transition Longfellow is partnering with Hennepin County master gardeners to bring food-gardening information to the neighborhood in a day-long series of classes interspersed with in-the-garden skill shares. Participants can sign up for one, two or all classes.

• Edible landscaping: Vegetables, fruits, and berries can add beauty, color and, of course, good taste to your yard. In this class, you’ll learn how to integrate edible plants into an ornamental landscape as ground covers, trees and shrubs, and in containers.

• Adding Chickens to Your Urban Yard: Thinking of chickens, yearning for fresh eggs? Rob Czernak of Powderhorn Feed Company can share all the info you need to know before you jump into adding poultry to the family.

• Growing Herbs: Master gardener Carrie Schmitz will share information about growing herbs to beautify your garden and harvesting and using herbs to enhance your meals.

• Native Plants: Learn about the benefits native plants bring to our city landscape, identify invasive plants to avoid, and identify some plants you may want to incorporate into your garden.

Concurrent with these classes will be hands-on garden skillshares where experienced gardeners demonstrate skills like:

• Tomato pruning;

• Composting and worm bins;

• August food production—keeping the harvest going;

• How to promote ripening of vegetables;

• Veggie storage options (can/freeze/dry/ferment); and more.

(The complete skillshare lineup will be posted on the Transition website.)

Participants can join in the lunch buffet at Gandhi Mahal during the mid-day break ($11.95, paid separately), or can visit other nearby restaurants. If you want to get the buffet, please note that when registering.

The cost for the Day of Garden Skillshares is $10, regardless of how many sessions you attend. Coffee will be served throughout the day. Space is limited. Please register at www.transitionlongfellow.org/dayofgardenskillshares.

Who’s Eating My Veggies? Bugs & Disease is scheduled for the 1st Saturday (July 2), 10:30am to noon at the Riverview Wine Bar, 3747 42nd Ave. S. (enter through the coffee shop). On the first Saturday of every month, you can get answers to your veggie garden questions from a Hennepin County master gardener. This summer, the focus will be on insects and diseases affecting vegetables, berries and fruits grown on urban lots. Free.

Learn to Knit group meets July 5 (1st Tuesday), 6:30pm at Lake Coffee House (33rd and Lake St.). New and experienced knitters gather to learn and practice knitting. Led by experienced knitter Susan Aguirre. Bring needles and yarn. Free.

Transition Movie Night and Potluck, is planned for July 15, 6:30pm (potluck) and 7:15 (movie) at Bethany Lutheran, 3901 36th Ave. S. This month the group will be watching a series of videos from The Urban Farm Guys You-Tube channel.

Join the Environment Action Team for Ash Tree Ribboning on Sun., July 17, 11am. Transition Longfellow encourages neighbors to take part in the ash tree ribboning project, bringing attention to the number of endangered ash trees in our neighborhood and helping residents understand what they can do to save the ash. (More info can be found on the Longfellow Community Council website at www.longfellow.org.)