Happy New Year from the Brown County Seed Library!
While our gardens rest under winter’s blanket, the Seed Library is already hard at work preparing for the growing season ahead. January is a time to plan, learn, and come together as we ready seeds and share skills that support resilient gardens throughout our community.
We invite you to join us in January for our seed packing events on January 3 and January 31. We’re also excited to host our Winter Sowing Workshop on January 10 at the Weyers-Hilliard Library, where you’ll learn a simple, low-cost method for starting seeds outdoors in winter—perfect for native plants and hardy garden favorites.
We are deeply grateful to A.P. Whaley, a Wisconsin-based seed company, and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for their generous seed donations in December. Baker Creek’s contribution will be shared through our Grab Bin program, while A.P. Whaley’s donation will support the Grab Bin and our Seed Swap, and also allows us to offer three limited-quantity seed varieties this year: Lacinato kale, Chioggia beet, and Slobolt looseleaf lettuce. These special seeds will be available beginning at our Seed Library Launch on March 7. Look for more details on the launch party in the February newsletter. All limited-quantity seeds will be available while supplies last.
Thank you for being part of our growing community. We look forward to another year of learning, sharing, and planting the seeds for a successful season ahead.
Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener
| | Cold frame in mid december. | | Kale still harvestable in the snow. | | Mixed kales thriving in the cold frame. | | Photos submitted by Kate, N.E.W. Master Gardener | |
Botany Basics
How Plants Reproduce: Seeds and Beyond
Plants use a variety of strategies to reproduce, helping them survive, spread, and adapt. Understanding these methods can help gardeners propagate plants more successfully and manage growth in your garden. Some methods, like bulbs and tubers, store energy to survive harsh conditions, while others, such as stolons and rhizomes, allow plants to spread quickly.
Sexual Reproduction
Most plants reproduce sexually by combining pollen and eggs to form seeds—the familiar way gardeners grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Seeds contain a tiny plant embryo along with stored nutrients that support early growth.
Some plants, such as ferns and mosses, reproduce sexually without forming seeds. Instead, they produce spores—single cells that grow into a plant capable of producing eggs and sperm. This allows the life cycle to continue without seed formation.
Asexual Reproduction (Vegetative Propagation)
Many plants can also reproduce without seeds or spores, creating new plants that are genetic clones of the parent plant. Common methods include:
Bulbs: Underground storage organs that produce new shoots (e.g., garlic, onions, tulips).
Rhizomes: Horizontal underground stems that send up new plants along their length (e.g., raspberries, perennial sow thistle).
Stolons (Runners): Above-ground stems that root at nodes to form new plants (e.g., strawberries).
Tubers: Swollen stems or roots that store nutrients and produce new plants from buds (e.g., potatoes, sweet potatoes).
Corms: Short, swollen, vertical stem bases that store energy, similar in function to bulbs but different in structure (e.g., crocus, gladiolus, dutchman’s breeches).
Offsets / Suckers: Small plantlets that grow from the base of the parent plant (e.g., apple and plum trees).
Cuttings / Division: Gardeners propagate plants by rooting stems or leaves, or by dividing root systems of established plants (e.g., mint, coleus, daylilies).
Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener
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Plan Your Garden with Technology
When planning your garden, save yourself lots of time by letting AI do the work for you. AI can be surprisingly helpful for gardeners, from backyard beginners to experienced growers, especially when it comes to planning, timing, and problem-solving.
My AI Journey in Garden Planning
I discovered how beneficial AI can be in helping gardeners plan their gardens. Allow me to walk you through my AI journey. My goal was to create organized, easy-to-use growing information using the core seeds we stock in the Brown County Seed Library. I started by asking AI to produce a Zone 5 outdoor seed-starting guide with these seeds. While it was helpful, it provided too much information that was already available on the seed packets. So, I added specific dates for the Brown County location, while omitting the overly detailed planting information.
AI tends to provide more information than requested. This time, it included succession planting information. That was useful! My next request was to create this in a tidy one-page document. Voilà! The next article will showcase this neatly organized final chart.
How AI Can Help You
You might consider using AI to enhance your gardening experience in the following ways:
Plan and Design Your Garden: AI can assist in designing your garden layout, suggesting optimal plant placements, and ensuring efficient use of space.
Schedule Garden Tasks: Receive a personalized schedule to help you manage planting, watering, and harvesting tasks effectively.
Climate Condition Awareness: Stay informed about climate conditions specific to your location, ensuring your garden thrives regardless of weather changes.
Soil and Fertilizer Management: Get suggestions on soil health and fertilizer requirements tailored to your garden's needs.
Seed Saving Information: Access detailed information on how to save seeds for specific plants, ensuring sustainability in your gardening practices.
By integrating AI into your gardening routine, you can enjoy a more efficient, organized, and successful gardening experience.
Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener
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Understanding Succession Planting
Gardening enthusiasts are always on the lookout for techniques that maximize yield and efficiency. One such technique that has gained popularity in our area is succession planting.
What is Succession Planting?
Succession planting involves staggering plantings of the same crop at intervals or planting different crops in succession to maximize the productivity of your garden space.
There are three types of succession planting:
Staggered Planting: Sowing seeds of the same crop at different times to ensure a continuous harvest. For instance, planting lettuce every two weeks means you'll have fresh greens throughout the season.
Intercropping: Planting fast-growing crops alongside slower-growing ones. As the quick crops are harvested, the slower ones can take over the space.
Sequential Planting: Following one crop with another as soon as it is harvested. For example, after early spring radishes, you might plant a quick-growing summer crop like bush beans.
Extended Harvest Period
The most significant benefit of succession planting is the extended harvest period. Enjoy fresh produce from early spring and into the cold season by planning successive plantings. This AI-generated chart can be helpful to plan a long-growing garden for our area.
Succession planting is a dynamic and rewarding approach to gardening that can transform a Zone 5 garden into a long serving harvest. By strategically planning your plantings, you can enjoy a continuous harvest from your garden.
Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener
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Book Review:
From the Garden to the Page
The Comfort of Crows: A backyard year
by Margaret Renkl
Format: Book, eBook, eAudiobook
The Comfort of Crows is Margaret Renkl’s naturalist notebook in which she journals fifty-two weeks of observations from her backyard, beginning in winter with her first bird observation and what it signifies for her coming year. Whether readers consider themselves naturalists or not, Renkl’s prose will paint beautiful images in the mind and possibly provide inspiration for keeping one’s own backyard diary. Adding to its charm, The Comfort of Crows is also filled with poetry and colorful, original artworks. Beyond registering the affairs of the wildlife around her, Renkl’s writing highlights the valuable lessons our gardens can teach us when we are heeding their messages. Through the seasons’ changes, she reflects on the micro and macro universes in which we exist, sharing space and impact with what is thriving (or not) around us.
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What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird
by Sy Montgomery
format: book
Having raised chickens for decades, Sy Montgomery is a dependable voice as she takes readers on a voyage into life with chickens. Montgomery’s storytelling and her portrayals of the character and charm that chickens bring to her community will certainly pull readers in, eager to learn more about their adventures. What might be a surprise to readers is that Montgomery works with a trainer to continue keeping chickens successfully, learning how to redirect their fear and aggression and what to do (or not do) in a variety of circumstances that she illustrates. What the Chicken Knows is ultimately a tale of backyard companionship; Montgomery’s chickens know their neighbors, attend to her signals, and are affectionate and intelligent. While readers are settled in for the winter season, this short, lighthearted book will warm and invoke a chuckle.
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The Growing Season: How I Built a New Life and Saved an American Farm
By Sarah Frey
format: book
The Growing Season is Sarah Frey’s memoir about growing up in very rural southern Illinois living what she calls a “farm to table” lifestyle out of necessity, long before it was trending. Though she dreamed of running away to the city in her youth, her family’s experience depending on the land roused her love for the earth and her ability to cultivate it. Frey’s is a story of resilience—she maintains the outlook that what she had to overcome throughout childhood gave her the fortitude to accomplish successes such as saving her family’s farm and creating her own produce company. Readers will be captivated by the risks Frey shares within The Growing Season, turning the pages to learn what triumphs or setbacks follow each one. And throughout, Frey teaches the value of perspective, gratitude, perseverance, and, perhaps most important, kinship.
Submitted by Jennifer, N.E.W. Master Gardener
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Calendar of Local Garden Related Events:
January 3, 9:30am - 3pm (free)
Seed Packing for the BCSL
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
January 8, noon - 1pm (free)
Emerging Berry Crops Winter Webinar Series: Honeyberries
Virtual, UW Extension
January 10, 1pm - 3pm (free)
Winter Seed Sowing Workshop: Jumpstart your Spring Garden
Weyers-Hilliard Library, 2680 Riverview Drive
January 13, noon - 12:30pm (free)
Lunch and Learn--Guide to Houseplant Care
Virtual, U of Minn
January 16, noon - 1pm (free)
2026 Cold Climate Fruit Webinar Series - Part 1: Marssonina Leaf Blotch
Virtual, UW Extension
January 21, 1:30pm - 3pm (free)
Ask Your Gardening Questions Live
Virtual, UW Extension
January 21, 6pm - 7pm (free)
Intergenerational Care for Land and Community: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer and Esther Bonney
Virtual, Wild Ones
January 24, 10am - 11am (free)
Providing Habitat and Food for Birds in All Seasons
A Gardeners Club of Green Bay Meeting
2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay
January 26- 28, 1pm - 2:30 pm (free)
5th Annual Pollinator Webinar Series
Virtual, U of Minn
January 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)
Top Ten Plant Diseases of 2025
Virtual, UW Extension
January 31, 9:30am - 3pm (free)
Seed Packing for the BCSL
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
February 5, noon - 1pm (free)
Emerging Berry Crops Winter Webinar Series: Day Neutral Strawberries and Table Grapes
Virtual, UW Extension
February 7, 1:30pm -2:30pm (free)
“The Extraordinary Caterpillar” Viewing
Sponsored by Wild Ones-Green Bay
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
February 11, Noon - 1:15pm (free)
Fruit and vegetable production: Pumpkin Integrated Pest Management
Virtual, U of Minn
February 14, 9:30am - 3pm (free)
Seed Packing for the BCSL
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
February 16-20, 1pm - 2:30pm (free)
Gardening from the Ground Up Series
February 16: Inputs and Outputs: Building healthy garden soil
February 17: Beneath the Surface: Myth-busting soil microbes and beneficials
February 18: Decoding Garden Product Labels: What you need to know before you buy
February 19: The New Normal? Air quality, smoke and shifting growing conditions
February 20: Enjoying the Bounty: Harvest and storage of garden produce
Virtual, U of Minn
February 18, Noon - 1:15pm (free)
Fruit and vegetable production: Tomato problems
Virtual, U of Minn
February 18, 1:30pm - 3pm (free)
Ask Your Gardening Questions Live
Virtual, UW Extension
February 21, 10am - 11am (free)
Q&A On Pest/Critter Control and Pruning
A Gardeners Club of Green Bay Meeting
2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay
February 25, Noon - 1:15pm (free)
Fruit and vegetable production: Integrated weed management
Virtual, U of Minn
February 25, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)
Fun and Games at the PDDC!
Virtual, UW Extension
February 28, 1pm - 2:30pm (free)
Growing & Using Herbs Year-Round
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
March 7, noon - 2:30pm (free)
Seed Library Launch Party 2026
Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St, Green Bay
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Introducing Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus var. acephala): A New Addition to Our Curated Seed Collection
We’re excited to announce the newest addition to the Brown County Seed Library’s curated collection: Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus var. acephala). Known for its tender, sweet leaves and striking purple veins, Red Russian Kale is a hardy, nutritious green that thrives in Wisconsin gardens and is versatile in the kitchen.
Growing Red Russian Kale in Wisconsin
Red Russian Kale is a cold-tolerant leafy green that grows well in Wisconsin’s climate. Here’s how to get started:
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Sowing: Direct sow seeds in the garden as early as 3–4 weeks before the last expected frost, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting.
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Soil: Kale prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a neutral pH.
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Sunlight: Full sun is ideal, but it tolerates partial shade.
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Watering: Keep soil consistently moist to encourage tender leaves.
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Spacing: Thin seedlings to 12–18 inches apart to allow room for growth.
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Harvesting: Red Russian Kale is a cut-and-come-again plant, meaning you can harvest outer leaves throughout the season while the plant continues to produce new growth. Leaves can be harvested when young and tender, or wait until they reach full size. Kale can withstand light frosts, which often enhance its flavor.
Pollination and Seed Notes
Most other common kales are a different species (Brassica oleracea), so Red Russian Kale will not cross-pollinate with them, helping maintain its unique traits. Like all kales, Red Russian is a biennial, meaning it needs to overwinter in order to produce seed the following year. Gardeners can leave plants in the ground over winter or protect them with cold frames or row covers to save seeds.
Using Red Russian Kale in the Kitchen
Red Russian Kale is as beautiful as it is nutritious. Its tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads, sautéed, steamed, or added to soups and smoothies. The slightly sweet, nutty flavor makes it a versatile ingredient in many dishes. For winter storage, kale can be blanched and frozen or dehydrated to enjoy year-round.
By adding Red Russian Kale (Brassica napus var. acephala) to your garden, you’re growing a plant that is both resilient and delicious, while contributing to the diversity of our local seed library. We encourage gardeners to try it this season and share their experiences with us!
Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener
| | Red Russian Kale going to seed in the Children's Edible Garden this summer. | | |
Simple Massaged Kale Salad
Not excited about a kale salad recipe? I get it. Most kale recipes are tough and bitter. This recipe is a total game changer. This salad is easy and the most delicious way to enjoy kale. It is great to make ahead, not bitter, stays fresh for days in the refrigerator, colorful and always a crowd pleaser. Plus, check out the variations and add-ins to change things up.
The trick for less bitter kale? Massage and rinse your kale, at least once, twice - better. Massaging kale breaks down tough cell walls allowing the release of enzymes and sulfur compounds that are pungent and bitter tasting while tenderizing the leaves, making a better overall flavor, especially when you rinse the bitter compounds off after their massage. Start with fresh, tender kale leaves. Curly, Russian and Lacinato are tender varieties.
Instructions for Massaged Kale
- Wash the kale leaves in cold water.
2. Trim out the tough and fibrous stems. We do not need them! You can use a knife down the center rib or rip them out with your fingers along the side of the stem.
3. Tear or chop the trimmed kale into bite-sized pieces.
4. Place chopped leaves in a large container of cold water.
5. Gently, pressing the leaves between fingers, massage the leaves for about 2 minutes.
6. Drain the water (water will be a light green color) then rinse thoroughly. Repeat for milder
flavor.
7. Spin dry in a salad spinner or dab and dry with a kitchen towel.
Salad Ingredients
5 cups of chopped, massaged and rinsed kale
2 cups broccoli florets - chopped
½ cup shredded carrots (add a few radishes -optional)
¼ cup finely chopped red onion
½ cup sliced almonds (OR walnuts, pecans, pepitas, toasted or not)
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup dried cranberries (raisins, chopped dates, dried pineapple, or any dried fruit OR fresh
apples, pomegranate arils/seeds)
½ cup crumbled feta cheese OR shredded cheddar (optional)
1-2 teaspoons Olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Lemon Dressing
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoons honey, maple syrup or sugar, adjust add to taste –(I use 2 tsp honey)
1 clove garlic minced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper Optional: Add poppyseeds for a lemony/poppyseed twist
Instructions:
1. Prep and place kale with remaining ingredients (up to olive oil) in a bowl, then sprinkle with olive oil and salt. Toss well.
2. Prepare dressing, place dressing in a jar and shake. Toss with salad.
Variations and add ins:
1 cup cooked quinoa, farro or other grain, roasted beets or other fresh or roasted vegetables.
Add more protein: roasted chicken, roasted tempeh, tofu, chickpeas, lentils
Change the dressing: Carrot ginger dressing, balsamic vinaigrette or tahini dressing.
Submitted by Janie, N.E.W. Associate Master Gardener
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Support the BCSL!
We are entirely supported by grants, donations and volunteers! If you are interested, there are many ways to support the BCSL.
*You can become a Seed Steward and support the library by growing out seeds from our core list to donate. We will accept seed donations by anyone who would like to donate, seeds can be dropped off at the STEM center or at the Central library.
*You can volunteer to sort and pack seeds. Opportunities will be posted on the New Leaf Foods Calendar of Events and included in our newsletters.
*You can make a monetary donation through our Fiscal Agent, New Leaf Foods. Click here to donate.
*You can visit our Amazon Wish List, which has basic packing supplies that we utilize for preparing our seeds for distribution. Click here to access the wishlist.
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Disclaimer:
Although brand names of products are mentioned in this newsletter, NEWMG and BCL do not endorse any particular brands. These mentions reflect individual experiences and should not be interpreted as endorsements or recommendations.
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