2020 Let's Get Growing - SESSION DESCRIPTIONS & SPEAKER BIOS - UMN Extension

2020 Let’s Get Growing
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS & SPEAKER BIOS
Adam Hjelm
Pollinator Lawns and Turf Alternatives
We love our lush green lawns, maybe a bit too much? Join us to learn what else we can plant to benefit
the bees and birds, while also keeping some green turf. We will discuss lawn alternatives that are more
environmentally friendly that will keep your backyard buzzing. Small changes can go a long way
towards the environment while saving you time and money.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels harvest rainwater from roofs and other structures that can then be used to water gardens,
lawns, and potted plants. Installing a rain barrel is an excellent way to reduce run -off and pollution as
well as save money. As much as 40% of residential water is used for irrigation in the summer.
Participants will learn the ins and outs of rain barrels, site selection, and other tips to use rain barrels
most efficiently.
Bio
Adam is the Education Coordinator for Sauk River Watershed District. Adam’s goal is to inform participants about the
impacts of human activity on water quality and ways to improve our little pieces of the bigger picture while having fun
and adding a bit of humor.

Annalisa Hultberg
Food Safety in the Garden and Farm: Keeping Your Produce Safe Through Good Agricultural Practices
Food safety practices can improve the quality and safety of your fresh produce and protect your family
and your customers from unintentional contamination and potential foodborne illness. Come to this
engaging session for a discussion of science-based best practices that all gardeners and growers should
take to keep their produce safe. Specific areas that will be covered include biological soil amendment
applications like manure and compost, water testing, handwashing and cleaning and sanitation of
tools and equipment.
Bio
Annalisa is a statewide Extension Educator in Food Safety at the University of Minnesota, where she co-coordinates the
On-Farm GAPs Education Program and has worked since 2011 providing practical, science-based farm food safety
education to gardeners and farmers around Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and the FSMA Produce Safety Rule. She
works with small to large scale fruit and vegetable farmers, farm to school programs, food hubs, agricultural professionals
and others to provide outreach and technical assistance to ensure a safe, healthy supply of local food for all using GAPs.

Becky West and Maureen Pierson
Succulents – Fun Not Fussy
Succulents are perfect plants for many people: they are easy to propagate and low maintenance. Some
are known for amazing and long bloom time; others add garden interest with variety of leaf and stem
shapes and colors. There are indoor houseplants or outdoor hardy varieties. This presentation will
include growing needs and examples for use.
Bio
Becky and Maureen are the "Sedum Sisters". Becky is an active Extension Master Gardener in Kandiyohi County and has
been a Master Gardener since 2003. She has written a weekly local newspaper column for 11 years as “Ramblings from an
Eclectic Gardener.” She is a Sedum lover, succulent plant compulsive, and obsessive plant collector, whose greatest joy is
finding a new succulent no one else has discovered, then sharing it with friends. Maureen has been an Extension Master

Gardener in Kandiyohi County since 2000 who enjoys sharing advice on Ask a Master Gardener, at Farmer’s market,
telephone answer line, local library, and radio. In addition to being a succulent lover, her current garden focus is
gardening for pollinators and planting natives.

Bill Cook
Perennial Vegetables
Most Minnesota gardeners think that other than asparagus and rhubarb, all backyard vegetables must
be replanted every year. In fact, there is a surprising list of perennial vegetables which are hardy, taste
great, and are not generally known because they are not appropriate for large-scale production. In this
class, we will cover several categories of perennial vegetables including tubers, spring shoots and leaf
crops.
Seed Starting for Beginners
Gardeners can get a jump on spring vegetables and flowers an d save some money by starting seeds
indoors. We will cover basics of soils, watering, using artificial lights, heat and getting those seedlings
successfully outside with recommendations on when to start commonly grown vegetables.
Bio
Bill is a Professor of Biological Sciences at St. Cloud State University. He works with the Stearns County Extension
Master Gardeners and currently has particular interests in little-known perennial vegetables, wild food-bearing plants
and growing cacti and succulents in his home greenhouse.

Carol Strong
Growing and Enjoying Garlic, Leeks, Onions and Shallots
This presentation describes the many flavorful and beautiful varieties available. Information includes
what to consider when selecting which garlic types to grow, options and best practices for planting,
storage and use.
Bio
Carol and husband Marty have been Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners and Tree Care Advisor volunteers
since 2006. They share their love of organic gardening and broader horticultural experiences. Carol has been growing
garlic for 25 years and enjoys sharing this passion with others thru education and culinary pursuits.

Christy Marsden
Introduction to Growing Vegetables in Containers
Who says you need a yard to grow a vegetable garden? Learn how to grow vegetables in containers no
matter where you live. Christy Marsden will cover the basics of growing vegetables in containers,
including an overview of how to choose the best containers, soil, and plants to grow.
Bio
Christy is a Horticulture Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Program and works as
the Education Manager. Christy comes from University of Wisconsin Extension, where she served as a county-based
Horticulture Educator in Rock County for three years. Prior to that, she worked at Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah,
Iowa. Originally from California, Christy discovered her love of plants while volunteering at the arboretum on the
University of California Davis campus. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Masters in Horticulture
and Agronomy from the University of California, Davis.

Dave Vaske
Basics of Plant Propagation
The most common way to propagate a plant is to start with seed, and for many plants, this is the best
way. However, in many situations starting from seed is a poor choice. The whys and how’s of multiple
types of plant propagation will be covered, and techniques for home gardeners to successfully
propagate almost any plant will be introduced.
Basics of Plant Propagation Demo
Demonstration of techniques discussed today in Dave’s earlier session on the Basics of Plant
Propagation class.
Bio

Dave along with his wife Teresa are the owner/operators of Miltona Greenhouses and Nursery, which is a seasonal retail
greenhouse and nursery business located north of Alexandria in rural Parkers Prairie. Dave has a scientific background
with over 20 years’ experience in the genetics field. Growing plants has always been a passion and hobby, and now with
five greenhouses it has become a full-time endeavor.

Dr. Joe Storlien
Gardening in Minnesota’s Changing Climate
Gardening is risky business, as Mother Nature always seems to throw plenty of obstacles at gardeners each
year. As Minnesota’s climate changes, some challenges will be amplified, and new challenges will arise. We
will discuss some of the basics of Minnesota’s changing climate, how it relates to our gardeners, and focus on
how to make our gardens resilient against these future challenges.
Building Healthy Soils
Healthy soils are the foundation for a successful garden each year. Understanding your soils a nd how
to build soil health is an important part of getting the most from your gardens. Join us to learn how
gardening activities, such as adding amendments, rotating, planting diversity, tilling or compaction,
affect the soil and the invisible life below ground. No matter how large or how small your garden
aspirations, this talk will give you the keys to having healthy soil and healthy plants.
Bio
Dr. Joe Storlien received his Ph.D. in Soil Science from Texas A&M University and is currently a Professor of
Environmental Studies at St. John’s University and a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener.

Jayme Hennek
Orchid Growing in the Home
You will get the basics on orchid growing. Learn how to grow indoors and outdoors, light required
from windowsill or artificial, when and how much to water, along with tips on temperature and
potting of your orchids.
Bio
Jayme has been an active Stearns County Extension Master Gardener for 28 years and has grown orchids for the same
years. He has received five awards from American Orchid Society (AOS) for growing orchids along with numerous
ribbons and trophies from St. Paul Winter Carnival and Minnesota State Fair and has been featured in Prairie Yard &
Garden 2014 Raising Orchids. He has traveled to South America and Costa Rica to see how tropical orchids grow in the
wild.

Jennifer Knutson
Miniature Gardens
Enter the magical world of miniature gardens! Ideas will be presented on how to design a terrarium,
dish garden and outdoor miniature garden. Create a charming, whimsical miniature landscape using
dwarf plants and accessories. Creative ideas on how to accessorize with items found on hand will be
presented.
Adding a Vertical Element to the Garden with Vines
Climbing vines have a special charm that goes beyond adding vertical interest to a garden. They can
have a softening effect on a fence, add beauty to garden structures, or act as a screen. Their lush leaves
and appealing flowers decorate the landscape with color and texture. Some provide edibl e or
ornamental fruit, late-season decorative seedpods, colorful fall foliage, or fragrance. Perennial and
annual vines that do well in Minnesota gardens will be presented.
Bio
Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has been a certified University of Minnesota
Extension Master Gardener since 2007. She is a member of the Minnesota Horticultural Society, North Star Lily Society,
and North American Lily Society. She has been writing a monthly garden column for the Brainerd Dispatch since 2008.

Jodie Ramsay and Julie Schroer
Color Through the Seasons
You can make the most of our relatively short growing season by planting a variety of perennials that
will provide color and interest from spring all the way through fall. In this sess ion, we will help you
plan for color all season long without planting every year!
New Perennials for 2020
Each season, Jodie and Julie offer at least 150 new varieties of perennials at their nursery. In this
session, they’ll preview some of these new varieties.
Bio
Julie and Jodie purchased Jean’s-the Right Plant Place in Perham, MN, in 2004. Their passion is perennials, as evidenced
by the 1300+ varieties they carry each season! In the non-gardening season, they both work at Northern State University
in Aberdeen, SD, teaching biology, where Julie also manages the greenhouses.

Joel Kangas
Hardy Stone Fruits for Central Minnesota – Plums, Cherries and Apricots
Plums, cherries and apricots are all viable options for growing in our planting zone. We'll talk about
the history and proper planting and care of these underused tree fruits.
Honeyberry – Good Blueberry Alternative for Alkaline Soils
Blueberries are hard to grow in our alkaline soils. Luckily, we have an alternative, the Honeyberry.
We'll talk about the history and proper planting and care for this versatile plant.
Bio
Joel is owner of Good to Grow in Brandon, MN, seller of bare root trees, shrubs, canes, and bushes and provider of
planting, pruning, and general care services. He has a BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin and a MS in Quality
Management Systems from Anna Maria College in MA. He is a Douglas County Extension Master Gardener and a
Minnesota Tree Care Advisor/Advocate.

John Ball
Trees That Are at Their Best for More Than One Season
It's easy to find a tree that has attractive flowers, colorful autumn foliage, interesting bark or even
edible fruit (for us or wildlife) but it’s hard to find a tree that does more than one of these! This session
will cover the best trees to provide more than one season of interest in the Minnesota landscape.
Conifers in Chaos!
Conifers are a key part of a Minnesota winter landscape, but most are not happy with our summers.
This session will cover some of the most common conifers used in our area and their problems. We will
also cover some under-used conifers best adapted to our climate.
Bio
John is a Professor of Forestry at South Dakota State University where he also serves as the extension forestry specialist
and the state’s forest health specialist. He has worked in the region for more than 30 years evaluating tree species and
cultivars.

John Stone
Squash – Types, Growing, Storage and Uses
Discussion on the history of squash, the various classifications (summer, winter and miscellaneous).
How to grow, harvest, and store, along with recipes and preparation methods.
Thinking About Being a Beekeeper?
This presentation is for individuals with limited or no experience in beekeeping. Discussion will
include what equipment is needed along with costs (will have actual samples of equipment on
display), environmental challenges, benefits to beekeeper and nature, and time commitment needed.
Bio
John is a Douglas County Extension Master Gardener who likes to grow more than carrots, tomatoes and onions. For the
past few years he has had over 30 different vegetables in his garden. John is past President of Douglas County Extension
Master Gardeners and past President of the State Master Gardener Advisory Board.

Ken Hovet
Holy Buckets! A New Way to Virtually Eliminate Weeds and Water Issues
After having raised a garden for over 40 years; I finally found an effective way to virtually eliminate
weeding and the hassle of watering. This bucket system requires very little maintenance and almost
takes care of itself after planting.
Bio
Since retirement six years ago after 41+ years of involvement in production agriculture, Ken has been actively involved in
the Todd County Extension Master Gardener program, Long Prairie Community Gardens, Long Prairie Farmers Market
and other horticulture related activities.

Lewis Struthers
Apples for Our Area
Discuss varieties that have produced well in Lewis’s Parkers Prairie orchard. Learn how to plant new
trees and prune new and old trees. Diseases, pests and general care of apple trees will be covered.
Bio
Lewis has grown apples in Parkers Prairie for 30 years. He has a small orchard with nine varieties of apples and grows
pears, plums, apricots and cherries. He is a Douglas County Extension Master Gardener, retired family physician, and
beekeeper.

Matt Ratliff
Mushrooms
This basic introduction to mushroom cultivation will explain how to cultivate a variety of gour met
mushrooms at home using basic materials and simple techniques, allowing home gardeners to grow
indoors annually or outdoors perennially.
Bio
Matt has spent nearly a decade honing mushroom cultivation techniques and has successfully grown over 50 varieties of
gourmet and medicinal mushrooms from all over the world. His company, Ready-2-Fruit Mushrooms, produces and
distributes mushroom kits and cultivation supplies nationwide through garden catalogs, nurseries, greenhouses and
select retailers.

Mike Thormodson
A Good Foundation: Proven Shrubs for “Around the House”
This class will cover a variety of shrubs and some plant combinations that can dress up an otherwise
dull landscape, while adding value to your home.
Bio
Mike is a native of the lakes area with 20+ years of experience in the horticulture industry, doing everything from design
and install to growing the plants. Currently he is the retail manager for Swedberg Nursery in Battle Lake.

Nate Dalman
The Scoop on Soil: Choosing the Proper Growing Media for Containers
Discuss the pros and cons of different growing mixes for containers and which mix is the best fit for
your garden at home. Learn tips to keep plants healthy and disease free so you can have a great looking
container garden all season long.
Bio
Nate is a member of the horticulture research team at the West Central Research and Outreach Center where he works
with not only ornamental flowers but also shrubs, trees, vegetables and small fruits. He attended college in Morris and
began working at the center where he discovered his passion for horticulture and experimenting with growing systems.
He has experience in nutrient management, plant disease recovery, soil health and vegetable/fruit production.

Robin Trott
Nature’s Invaders
Whether by air, water, or stowaways; invasive species have made their presence known in Minnesota,
with more lurking. Learn about and get updates on several of the invasive species that will have a

dramatic impact to our landscapes, including emerald ash borer, bur oak blight, and Japanese beetle.
Education is the best prevention in controlling the spread of these unwanted guests.
From Garden to Table: Harvesting Herbs for Healthy Eating
Herbs have been used for cooking, medicine, aromatherapy, religious ceremonies, pest control and
decoration since the beginning of civilization. Join Robin to learn how to grow and use herbs in your
garden.
Bio
Robin is a popular speaker, columnist, and grower; and is the University of Minnesota Extension Horticulture Educator
in Douglas County. Her experience growing everything from Ageratum to Zucchini gives her an interesting perspective
on gardening problems and their solutions and her passion for teaching gardening tips and techniques guarantees an
interesting session.

Roger Walvatne
Hydrangeas – Tried and True
Tried and true older varieties of hydrangeas and their care, including watering and when and how to
prune.
Hydrangeas – News and Exciting
Learn about new and exciting varieties of hydrangeas and their care, including watering and when and
how to prune.
Bio
Roger has worked at Lake Country Gardens on the west side of Otter Tail lake for 35 years, specifically working with
trees and shrubs. He has been an Extension Master Gardener in Otter Tail County for 25 years.

Sara Thronsedt
Not Your Grandma’s Veggies
Expand your veggie horizon beyond the world of corn, peas and beans. Learn about interesting and
unique vegetables to grown in your garden.
Bio
Sara is a West Otter Tail County Extension Master Gardener and has gardened for 45 years. Starting with two tomato
plants in a flower bed, her focus has grown to vegetables, perennials and her pride and joy – a half acre native prairie.

Steve Henry
Thinking About Being a Beekeeper?
This presentation is for individuals with limited or no experience in beekeeping. Discussion will
include what equipment is needed along with costs (will have actual samples of equipment on
display), environmental challenges, benefits to beekeeper and na ture, and time commitment needed.
Bio
Steve is a retired physician, Douglas County Extension Master Gardener and experienced beekeeper.

Tom and Mary Holm
Designing and Growing Wonderful Containers
Learn how to make beautiful containers and keep them looking their best throughout the season.
Bio
Mary works at Morning Sky Greenery, a native plant nursery at Morris and is also the host of Prairie Yard & Garden on
Pioneer Public TV. Her agriculture background includes a degree in Agriculture at NDSU, working as an Assistant
County Agent in NE North Dakota. Mary and her husband Tom owned/operated the Neche (ND) Greenhouse for over 20
years, until Tom was offered a position at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris. From 2005 to 2019,
Tom was Greenhouse Manager at the West Central Research & Outreach Center, involved with annual flower research,
perennial trials, prairie habitats and many related projects. Tom's background includes a degree in Agriculture from
NDSU, teaching high school, and serving as President and on the Board of the North Dakota Nursery, Greenhouse, &
Landscape Association.