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We need your input!
If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to tell us about your experience so far with the BCSL, and how we can make things even better for next year!
Click here to take our survey.
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Calendar of Local Garden Related Events:
November 1, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Planning a Rain Garden
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St
Nov 2, 6pm - 8pm ($)
Bright Futures: Great Perennial Plants for Sun
Virtual, UW Extension
Nov 6-9 ($)
Friends of the Library's BIG Book Sale
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St
November 9, 12pm - 12:30pm (free)
Adaptive Gardening Tools for your Holiday Gift List
Virtual, UW Extension
November 11, 9:30am - 12pm & 12:30pm - 3pm (free)
Seed Packing Event
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St
November 14, 12pm - 12:30pm (free)
Growing Adenium (Desert Rose) – The Flamboyant Succulent
Virtual, UW Extension
November 15, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)
Diseases of Evergreens
Virtual, UW Extension
November 16, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
The Gardener’s Guide to Prairie Plants
Virtual, Wild Ones
December 13, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Ten Cool Diseases You Can Learn to Love (and Identify by Eye)
Virtual, UW Extension
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Seed Saving
Many gardeners have ended the gardening season, but for seed savers, we are still doing our thing. It’s been a tricky growing season for collecting seeds. Some plants became stressed, due to weather conditions, and bolted early. Some plants seemed to take forever to set seeds. Recently the weather has been very wet, and not optimal conditions to harvest seeds.
If you do fall clean up, this can also serve as a last chance to do seed harvesting. As you clip down the plants, snip off the seed heads to save and dry while disposing of the stem and leaves. For those that compost, this not only gives you a source of nitrogen for your pile, but it also keeps seeds out of your finished compost.
To prepare seeds for storage, make sure they are completely dry and free from debris. Moisture can cause seeds to decay or lose viability. As a rule, for the general seed saver, it is recommended that you store your seeds in a breathable container like a paper bag or paper envelope. Place your harvested and packaged seeds in a cool and dry place to be ready for spring planting.
Yes, keep saving those seeds, dry them completely and store your harvested lot in a cool dry place. If you have more seeds than what you need, the Brown County Seed Library will be happy to receive your donation to share with our local community. Please submit any donations with the Seed Donation form.
Submitted by Peggy, NEW Master Gardener
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Composting
What do you do with your yard waste?
Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden. You can easily create compost using garden scraps that would otherwise go to the landfill. This process involves breaking down organic material, like leaves, grass clippings and plant materials, into a soil-like substance that can be added to your garden beds.
To start composting, you can use a compost bin or designated area in your yard. Begin by layering your garden scraps, making sure to include a balance of "green" materials (like food scraps and grass clippings) with "brown" materials (like dried leaves and twigs). You can also add in things like coffee grounds and eggshells for added nutrients. Over time, your scraps will transform into nutrient-rich compost that you can use to fertilize your garden. To increase the speed of composition, keep your compost pile moist and turn it a few times a month.
Composting is an easy and eco-friendly way to reduce your household waste and create healthy soil for your garden. By using garden scraps and following a few simple steps, you can create a sustainable and thriving garden ecosystem. It also will save you time and gas with trips to the local yard waste facility.
If you would like to learn more about composting, watch this video by the University of Wisconsin Extension, “From Scraps to Soil: Composting Basics”.
Submitted by Peggy, NEW Master Gardener
OpenAI. (2023)
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Understanding Seed Viability after Storage
Seeds are like nature's time capsules, carrying within them the potential for new life and lush growth. To ensure the success of your gardening endeavors, it's crucial to know the expected viability of the seeds you're working with and to store them under the right conditions. This knowledge will help you make informed choices about which seeds to plant, when to replace old stock, and how to maximize the potential for a bountiful garden.
Seed viability refers to a seed's ability to germinate and grow into a healthy plant under suitable conditions. Several factors influence seed viability, including genetics, storage conditions, and the type of plant the seeds come from. Here at the BCSL, we aim to offer seeds that meet or exceed the minimum allowable standards for seed germination set by the Federal Government, while still utilizing as many of our seeds as possible. Many types of seeds keep their viability for several years in storage before they start to deteriorate and die. Here is a chart compiled by the University of Illinois giving the approximate seed life of common vegetable seeds.
This means that we will be offering some seeds that were purchased for the 2023 growing season, in our available seeds for 2024. Those that will experience a sharp drop in viability after a year, such as plants in the onion family, we will not repackage. Instead, we will use them for training activities or offer them in bulk at our first annual Seed Swap, to be held during the 2024 BCSL Launch event scheduled for March 2. Seeds that were grown for the 2024 growing season will be packaged using a green envelope wrap instead of white, to make it easier for you to tell the seed age.
If you have older seeds that you are not sure are still viable, you can perform a simple germination test. If the germination test shows a lower viability (but still some viability) that you would typically expect for that seed type, you can still plant it but you may want to sow more thickly or start in seedling trays. This approach will allow you to transplant only the healthy starts to your garden, ensuring the best chance for a successful harvest.
Submitted by Melissa, NEW Master Gardener
OpenAI. (2023)
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Living Soil and Planning Your No-Till Garden
I don’t know about you, but I have learned so much from this book! Learning about the life within the soil we depend on to support the plants that nourish us is beyond fascinating. As a quick recap, the three main tenets of No-Till gardening are:
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Disturb the soil as little as possible.
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Keep the soil covered as much as possible.
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Keep the soil planted as much as possible.
I hope that these articles have given you some realistic ways to move your gardening towards No-Till practices. If interested, this book is also available from the Brown County Library.
Submitted by Melissa, NEW Master Gardener
OpenAI. (2023)
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Featured Local Organization:
The Friends of the Brown County Library
The Friends of the Brown County Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable and educational organization focused on helping curious minds of all ages learn more about our community and the world beyond by organizing events that help make the Library great, such as the biannual Big Book Sale. The Friends have also donated funds to bring in expert Seed Saving speakers for the Brown County Seed Library.
Big Book Sales are the primary fundraiser for the Friends of the Brown County Library and proceeds from the sales benefit the Brown County Library’s programs. The sales are held three times per year (Fall, Spring, and early Summer) in the main and lower levels of the Central Library in downtown Green Bay. Other funding is gathered from the Friends and other supporters. The Friends are also known for their annual literacy campaigns such as Give-a-Kid-a-Book and Born to Read, and for their numerous sponsorships of library and literacy events throughout the year.
Visit their website to learn more or donate to help fund the Brown County Seed Library.
2023 Fall Book Sale:
November 6-9, 2023
held at Central Library
2024 Spring Book Sale:
April 29 - May 2, 2024
held at Central Library
Submitted by Braedon, Public Health AmeriCorps Member Serving at New Leaf Foods
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Green Bay Botanical Garden
Plant Series: Indiangrass
This year the Green Bay Botanical Gardens allowed members of the NEW Master Gardeners to harvest seeds from their native plantings and offer them to the community through the BCSL! We are so excited to offer seeds from this special collaboration at our 2024 launch event on March 2! Every month we will discuss a new plant in the series.
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), a symbol of resilience and natural beauty, once reigned as a dominant grass species in the expansive tallgrass prairies that stretched across the American Midwest. This visually captivating native grass typically reaches heights of 3 to 5 feet, displaying an upright form and blue-green foliage that transforms to vibrant orange-yellow during the fall. Its presence not only adds elegance to the landscape but also plays a vital role in supporting various wildlife.
Planting Indiangrass from seed requires you to give the seed at least 4 weeks of cold stratification. This can be accomplished by surface sowing these seeds over a prepared seedbed in fall/winter, or placing in a container (does not require added moisture) and leaving in your refrigerator for 4-5 weeks. Indiangrass can tolerate a wide range of soils, including loamy, clay, and sandy soils. It performs best in well-drained, moderately fertile soils. It prefers full sun to partial shade, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Once established, Indiangrass is highly drought-tolerant, making it a resilient choice for water-conservation efforts. However it will require regular watering during the establishment phase, which typically takes one to two growing seasons. Periodic mowing in early spring can help maintain its health and appearance. The root system of Indiangrass is fibrous and short-rhizomatous, contributing to its resilience and adaptability in a range of soil conditions.
Indiangrass's significance extends beyond its visual appeal and adaptability. It plays a pivotal role in supporting various pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees, and butterflies. The plant provides nectar, pollen, and offers shelter and nesting sites, particularly for ground-nesting bees. But it doesn't stop there; Indiangrass also provides nesting habitat and protective cover for several kinds of birds, including the Ring-necked Pheasant, Greater Prairie Chicken, Northern Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and Field Sparrow. Many birds also enjoy eating the seeds, especially during the hard winter months. Indiangrass is a host plant for both the Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) butterfly and the Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) butterfly.
Thank you again to the Green Bay Botanical Gardens and the NEW Master Gardeners for providing local, native seeds to our library!
Submitted by Melissa, NEW Master Gardener
OpenAI. (2023)
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Featured Recipe
Pumpkin Cranberry Bread with Sunflower Seeds
Prep Time: 15 min
Bake Time: 60 to 65 min
Makes 2 loaves
By: Chef Selena Darrow, Executive Director Rooted In
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 can (15 oz.) 100% pure pumpkin or homemade
4 large local eggs
1 cup local sunflower oil, such as Century Sun Oil
1/2 cup orange juice or water
1 cup sweetened dried, fresh or frozen cranberries***
½ cup sunflower seeds, plus 3 tablespoons
1 tablespoon flax seeds, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Coat two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.
- Stir flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil and juice/water in a large bowl until well combined.
- Stir flour mixture in pumpkin mixture until just moistened. Fold in cranberries, 1⁄2 cup sunflower seeds and optional flax seeds.
- Divide batter between the two prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle each with 1 ½ tablespoons sunflower seeds.
- Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
- Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack to cool completely.
***Wisconsin was the 2022 top cranberry producer in the US, at about 4.84 million barrels.
Nutrition
Pumpkin: 209% of the (DV) of Vitamin A and 37% of the (DV) Vitamin K.
Cranberries: 25% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C
Sunflower Seeds: 37% of the (DVI) of Vitamin E.
Flax seeds: Made up of 29% carbs—a whopping 95% of which is fiber.
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