Seed starting kits available to grow native plants for Midway and Frogtown spaces
You can be the Growing Machine
Right now, Winter Sowing kits to make “mini-greenhouses” are being shared with the Midway and Frogtown community as a winter/early spring activity that individuals and groups can do together. Pollinator plants grown with these kits can be used in backyards or shared back to our local community spaces that have native plantings like Pierce Butler Meadow. Kits come with hand-drawn instructions created by local artist Gita Ghei and all the material needed including native pollinator plant seeds harvested locally by community members. Once the mini-greenhouses are prepared, they go outside right-away to germinate on mother nature’s schedule. Kits will be available from February through April 2022 and arrangements for collecting any germinated seedlings you won’t use can be made (see below).
Find yourself a seed starting kit
1) Currently, kits are being stocked at 2 kiosks:
~The Little Free Florist on Englewood Ave, between Aldine & Wheeler avenues 55104
~The Lily Pad Community Garden in the Mobile Nature Art Froglab kiosk at Dale St and Lafond Ave, 55014
2) A number of kits can be made for your local Midway or nearby community group as a group activity! Reach out to us via this contact form and we will get you into our schedule.
3) Individuals or households in the Midway or Frogtown neighborhoods of St. Paul can also request kits for pick-up or delivery. Requests for those can also be made here.
Seedling Corps
In addition to seed sowers, we are looking for a few green thumbs to nurture sprouted plants over the summer. Check out this page if you think you can help tend plants.
Got sprouts?
As the spring warm-up happens, periodically peek at your mini-greenhouses. You may find green shoots emerging, exciting! If you plan to use these pollinator plants for your landscape, keep tending them through the spring until they have more leaves and roots to ensure successful transplanting. This post has some tips about spring/summer care of your containers.
If you would like these plants to go into a neighborhood community space like Pierce Butler Meadow, then reachout via the contact page to request pick-up of your baby plants!