Identifying Grasses & Other Plants on a Sustainable Farm: "Gazing at Graminoids"

Join the Crow River Chapter for a day of identifying and learning about plants found on a sustainable and organic farm.  

We'll start the day with a class/workshop focusing on grasses led by Department of MBS Prairie Ecologist, Rhett Johnson, author of the "Field Guide to Minnesota Grasses". This morning session will be indoors at the South Shore Event Center, and will focus on graminoid (grass) specific anatomy and terminology, some of the major taxa (groups) of grasses that are common in Minnesota, and how to approach learning grasses and identifying them in the field. It will include presentations and looking at actual pressed and fresh collected grasses.

At noon, we'll have a "working lunch" at the Event Center (included). Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available.

Next, we'll drive out to Living Song Farm, where Rhett will be joined by Missy Anderson, plant propagation specialist at the Three Rivers Park District native plant nursery. The two of them will lead a walk through the farm's permanent pasture, field margins and conservation areas, identifying the vast variety of flora, native and introduced, and even the inevitable invasives. We'll also take a moment to visit the grassfed beef herd and the newly harvested garlic crop.

Registration: Registration is required. No walkups.
 SFA Members Free; Nonmembers $10 per person.
Members, please log in first to see member pricing.  Learn more about joining SFA here.

Addresses: 
10:00 a.m. South Shore Event Center, 733 6th Street, Howard Lake, MN 55349;
1:00 p.m. Living Song Farm, 7616 25th St. SW, Howard Lake MN 55349

More Info: Crow River Chapter; crowriver@sfa-mn.org

SFA staff and volunteers occasionally take photos during our workshops, cafe chats and field days for promotional purposes and to use as documentation of events to share with our funders.  If you do not wish to be photographed, please let our event host know -- we'll make every effort to make sure you are not photographed.

Refunds for cancellations can be requested up to 48 hours prior to the event.