Transition Longfellow schedules Movies, Parents Group, gardening classes

The volunteers with Transition Longfellow create opportunities for South Minneapolis neighbors to get to know one another while also learning how to live more sustainably and prepare for changes ahead. Visit www.transitionlongfellow.org for more details on these and other activities.

Prepared Parents

The Prepared Parents Group will meet Sat., Apr. 7, 10am to noon, at Longfellow Park, 3435 36th Ave. S. Feeling alone in trying to raise your family with a less wasteful, less materialistic lifestyle? This group is a place where parents can talk with one another about raising resilient kids, living a sustainable, low-waste family life, and preparing your family for extreme weather and other challenges. Kids are welcome; toys available. The group is for parents with kids 10 and under. This group is free to all interested.

Step-by-Step Preparedness Emails

Each Friday, Transition Longfellow sends out an email with actions you can take that week to become more prepared for extreme weather. April emails will focus on having supplies to shelter in place. Sign up for the series at the website, where you can also find past emails.

Book Group

The Book Group meets Thurs., Apr. 12, 6:30pm, at Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave. They will discuss “Humane Critter Control: Natural, Nontoxic Pest Solutions to Protect Your Yard and Garden” by Longfellow master gardener, Theresa Rooney. Her book shows many ways to use protective barriers, outsmart insect invaders, use scent to your advantage, and more. The methods she presents not only control wildlife and insects safely and humanely but are healthier for children and pets as well. The group is free; books available for purchase.

Movie Night

Movie Night is scheduled for Fri., Apr 13, potluck at 6:30, movie at 7pm, at Walker Community Church, 3104 16th Ave. S. Share a meal, then watch the documentary “GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth.” The filmmaker, Dave Gardner, will be attending.

This film asks the most critical question of our time: How do we become a sustainable civilization? Rather than dispensing facts about climate change, peak energy, and biodiversity loss, it looks at the cultural barriers that prevent us from acting rationally.

Why are population conversations so difficult to have? Why is a roaring economy more important to us than human survival on this planet? Hooked on Growth asks us to examine the beliefs and behaviors we must leave behind, and the values we need to embrace in order for our children and grandchildren to survive and thrive.

Veggie Basics Class

The Veggie Basics Class is taught by Hennepin County Master Gardeners, and provides everything you need to know to start your first vegetable garden. This 4-week class runs every Saturday morning in April, from 10am to noon at the Gandhi Mahal community room, 3009 27th Ave. S. Cost is $10. You can register at the door. Limit 20 people.

Help build a community of food growers!

Volunteer for Chard Your Yard Garden Install Day planned this year on Sat., May 12. Chard Your Yard is Transition Longfellow’s signature project, helping neighbors grow some of their own fresh, healthy food by installing 3’ x 5’ raised-bed vegetable gardens in home and apartment yards. To meet the goal of 24 gardens installed, the group needs another 20 volunteers for 3 hour or 6-hour shifts (with ample breaks for food). Volunteers share breakfast and lunch. All participants can attend the event wrap party! Sign up on the website: www.transitionlongfellow.org/chard-your-yard.

Sign-up to receive a Chard Your Yard raised bed begins Apr. 1. Cost is $65, with a limited number of discounted beds available for persons with disabilities, low-income and senior citizens, thanks to sponsorship by the Longfellow Community Council. Discounted beds must be in the Longfellow, Cooper, Howe, or Hiawatha neighborhoods. Non-discounted beds can be installed anywhere in the 55406 ZIP code.

Transition Longfellow invites community members who value food growing in our area to support this project with a donation of food or beverages for the volunteer teams. Contact the group through their website.

Get rid of grass?

“Get Rid of Your Kentucky Bluegrass: Switch to a Low Maintenance & Native Habitat,” is the planned presentation on Thur., Apr. 19, 6:30pm, in the Gandhi Mahal restaurant community room.

Want to get away from that loud, smelly gas lawn mower? You can! Imagine your yard as a cooling carpet of plants that fix carbon in the soil, provide habitat for pollinators, and require very little maintenance from you.

Douglas Owens-Pike, Project Manager at Metro Blooms, will present planting options that reduce maintenance and increase habitat for both sunny and shady locations. He will bring copies of his book, “Beautifully Sustainable: Freeing Yourself to Enjoy Your Landscape” for purchase, with a percentage of sales benefiting Transition Longfellow.

Looking ahead

“Save Money, Drop a Car” with Pat Thompson (Transition ASAP), Leslie MacKenzie (Transition Longfellow) and the folks from Hour Car. Planned for Mon., May 21, Pratt School, 66 Malcolm Ave. SE (see community ed catalog for the time). Have you dreamed of escaping traffic jams and parking tickets? Ready to put that car insurance money to a better use? This class will help you understand the true cost of your personal vehicle(s), and identify strategies you can take to reduce your personal vehicle use. You may find you can drop a car altogether.