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It's Not Too Late!!!
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There's still plenty of summer left...
...to build healthy soil!
Our crew is now equipped with a brand new applicator trailer capable of delivering 300 gallons of compost tea at a time! Compost tea is a great way to build soil by providing your garden with the biology it needs to generate health and nutrition on it's own.
Contact us
today so we can help you achieve soil perfection!
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Community Engagement
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University of Minnesota Bee Squad
As you may have already heard, GrowHaus is now adorned with two beautiful, buzzing bee boxes! We are so proud to be hosting these beautiful ladies on our property. Pollinators work very hard to keep our landscapes healthy, and we want to do everything we can to make sure they are happy too.
Starting this month, the UofM Bee Squad will be visiting GrowHaus on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. As they tend to our hives, they will be available to engage and interact with anyone who would like to see beekeeping first hand!
We encourage you to get out here and see what the buzz is about! Even though the bees are harmless, we have a viewing tent set up for those who would like to observe from a protected space.
Contact us today for more info!
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About Town
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Cornercopia Open House
Wednesday, July 27, 6-8pm
The University of Minnesota will be hosting an Open House and Field Day this summer and fall at Cornercopia, the student organic farm and research plots. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the innovative organic growing practices students at the U of M are involved with as well as talk with researchers about their work in organic and sustainable agriculture. There will be tours, tastings, and more! This event is FREE and open to the public.
Microbrews for Microgreens
Saturday, July 30, 12-4pm
Join our friends,
Spark-Y, at
Wabasha Brewing for a summer brew bash! Each ticket includes a taco bar catered by
Boca Chica Restaurante y Cantina and one free Wabasha brew (or a nonalcholoc beverage). There will be games, prizes, music, and entertainment for all ages, so bring your family and friends!
Spark-Y is a 501(c)3 nonprofit empowering Twin Cities youth through hands-on, experiential learning rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. They integrate interdisciplinary curriculum with hands-on agriculture systems, such as aquaponics, mushroom growing, spirulina cultivation and vermiculture. These agriculture systems are built by students in their classrooms, which then provide local, healthy produce to schools year-round and countless valuable learning opportunities.
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In the News
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Wednesday, July 13th @4pm
watch Heidi as she discusses sustainable and helpful mulching strategies for your gardens.
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| Did you know... |
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 ...even though the name suggests otherwise, the daylily does not actually belong to the lily family (Liliaceae)?
Did you know...
...A honeybee can fly 24 km in an hour at a speed of 15 mph? Its wings beat 200 times per second or 12,000 beats per minute!
Did you know...
...the native wildflower Self Heal was given it's name because of it's perceived ability to cure a multitude of ailments?
 Did you know...
...that last year MN grossed $
8.5 billion in economic activity associated with recycling manufacturers?
Did you know...
...that GrowHaus is now building a demonstration greenhouse? Very soon, you'll be able to pay a visit and speak with our grower about various techniques to grow beautiful, healthy vegetable gardens.
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Now that we've passed the solstice, our astrological summer has officially begun. Worth noting is that this year, our summer solstice coincided with the strawberry full moon of June. The last time these events happened simultaneously was more than 50 years ago.
With both Sun and Moon at their peak, this is a poignant time for re-connection with the cosmos. For ages, farmers, shepherds, and stewards of the land have been witness to the inherent connections between earth and sky. In the age we've entered, many of us have lost touch with the patterns woven into the elements and relationships of the collective Reality.
So as our plants and waters align with the rhythm of the sky, let us remember that we too are an intrinsic part of the cosmic weave. May we honor that in all our Being.
~Blessings~
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| Environmental Message |
Minnesota's Circular Economy
In a concerted and informed effort to "green" the state, Minnesota businesses are creating a coalition to re-design the conventional model of commerce. The Minnesota Sustainable Growth Coalition--comprised of Ecolab,
3M, Best Buy, Cargill, General Mills, Medtronic and Target--is partnering with grassroots environmentalists and University of Minnesota researchers to actualize the "Circular Economy" model in our state, and eventually beyond.
The circular economy is not a new idea. Inspired by the regenerative capabilities found in nature, this model has taken off in Europe and has already been adopted by a few other forward-thinking US businesses.
The idea is simple: by combining forces and managing resources together, we will have the synergy to create a much larger impact in reducing waste. Collectively, we will bear witness to much more pronounced results when compared to individualized action. Much like the
nutrient cycling we see in our forests, the circular economy looks to feed outputs back into the system as inputs.
Participating companies and organizations are teaming up to identify solutions to climate change and peak oil that they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach on their own. Specific remedies like creating longer lasting or easier-to-fix products has already proven successful. To learn more, visit the coalition's website
here.
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Plant of the Month
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Self Heal -
Prunella vulgaris
Self Heal is a native perennial ground cover that blooms in July and is known to be a prolific attractor of butterflies and other native pollinators.
Spreading by rhizomes, a mature self heal plant will establish thick, clustered foliage at it's base with spiked, purple flowers reaching up from the foliage. Being part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), this perennial looks and grows much the same. Because of it's low height and tendency to spread, it has become a popular choice for homeowners looking to convert their traditional turf grass into a bee lawn. Whether it be in your yard or garden, self heal will make a wonderful blooming addition that will certainly attract visitors to your home!
Swing by GrowHaus to check out our collection of prunella and other native perennials!
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| Recipe of the Month |
Daylily 'Capers'
Daylilies are ubiquitous in our regional landscapes...and for good reason! They are low-maintenance, hardy perennials that produce an abundance of color on a regular basis. But I bet you never thought about eating them.
Capers, in the traditional sense, are simply fermented flower buds of the caper plant. The same principle can be applied to any edible flower...and the result is delicious!
Tips for harvesting: pick buds from a plant/area that you don't mind giving up some blooms. When choosing buds, look for tightly packed, green buds that are still firm. Softer, yellow buds will work too but won't be as crisp in the end.
Ingredients:
- 8 cups water
- 2 cups freshly picked daylily buds
- 4 whole cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp kosher salt
- Seasonings to suit your fancy
Directions:
- In a large bowl or mason jar, combine salt and water. Shake/stir until all the salt has dissolved.
- Place buds, garlic and any spices you'd like into a mason jar or other vessel that can be sealed.
- Pour salt water solution over the jar contents so that all the buds are covered. If there is room to spare, place a heavy object inside the jar on top of the buds to keep them submerged.
- Allow the jar to ferment for 5-7 days, opening the jar periodically to let off gas and to sample the taste. Once you've reached a desired level of flavor, transfer the jar into your refrigerator where the buds should keep for several months.
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