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Establish Native Grasses Field Day
A free native grasses seed collecting field day is being sponsored by
the Sustainable Farming Association of Southeast Minnesota at the Vic
Ormsby farm on Sunday, October 5th, 1:00 p.m., starting at the Prairie
Moon Nursery in Wiscoy Valley (near Winona).
Learn to establish native grasses in your pastures inexpensively.
This tour will focus on the hardy, warm season native grasses which
are most productive during July and August when most cool season
pasture grasses are dormant. Native grasses have a six to ten foot
root zone (compared to most cool season pasture grasses which have a
four inch root zone) which is very efficient at recycling nutrients,
has tremendous soil holding capabilities (great for erosion control on
steep slopes), is resistant to soil compaction, and productive in
drought summers. Native grasses are highly nutritious for ruminants,
hold their nutritional value into the winter, and extend the
productivity of pasture. They are self-seeding once established.
Vic Ormsby will teach us to identify native grasses in their seed
bearing stage, show us how to collect the seed and transplant mature
plants.
Directions to the farm are: From Winona start at the intersection of
Hwy. 61 and Hwy. 43 (Hot Fish Shop, Quality Inn, Kwik Trip), continue
past the Vo-Tech and follow Cty. 17 up the hill to Witoka (if you
accidentally follow 43 to Wilson just go across the overpass and
follow the Hwy. 90 directions), stay on Cty. 17, approximately 1/4
mile past Witoka turn right and go under the interstate and continue
3.6 miles until you see Prairie Moon Nursery on your right, pull in by
the roadside native flower garden area. From Interstate 90 take the
Winona exit, 43 north, turn right and then immediately left on Cty. 19
(a T), go 5.8 miles (black top turns to gravel, lots of turns), in the
valley turn left on Cty. 17, go 1.5 miles, Prairie Moon Nursery is on
your left.
Watch for field day signs.
The Sustainable Farming Association of Southeast Minnesota is
dedicated to farmer to farmer education, sharing and fellowship. For
more information about SFA, please contact Bev Sandlin, coordinator,
at 507/689-2988 or e-mail: storm@rconnect.com.
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