Winter Sowing…Conservation in Action

Winter is a busy time here at the Easton Garden Club. We are curating new resources as well as sharing practices to engage us during these long winter months. Here are some Winter resources to keep us going!

Bluebird Conservation Project: One of our Club perpetual conservation projects, the Bluebird Conservation effort, involves installing and caring for Bluebird Nesting Boxes in our backyard habitats. It serves as a great Winter project and the DEEP has provided a great resource for learning about Bluebirds, how to create a habitat to support them and position nesting boxes to provide shelter. Click here to find information posted our Easton Garden Club website under Conservation.

It is Time for Winter seed Sowing! In addition to our fabulous programming brought forward by our programs Chair Susan Slagle, we will host pop up events like the 2nd Annual Easton Pollinator Pathway Winter Seed Sowing Workshop. We are welcoming back our very own Chris Linley to instruct us on how to propagate seeds in recycled gallon milk or water jugs. Last year we focused on Milkweed seed sowing and this year we will be including other varieties of seeds requiring cold stratification. Stay tuned for information on dates and what materials you will need to participate. Free Admission and Open to the Public. 

Mary Ellen Lemay of Aspetuck Land Trust curated "lunch and learn" webinars in February. One in particular webinar from the Wild Seed Project on Winter seed sowing is a must for anyone curious about sowing native seeds in winter. It also serves a great primer to our 2nd Annual Easton Pollinator Pathway Winter Seed Sowing Workshop. Here is the description an link to watch and learn:

• Native seeds in Winter. : While we are still spending much of our time at home, sowing seeds is a great activity to do on your own or with loved ones. Learn from Wild Seed Project's Heather McCargo how to do this. This is recorded so you can do this any day !

Composting: So many of us are composting and wanting to learn more. Here is a free video recording of a program offering information about taking your composting practice to the next level. Let me know if anyone is interested in gathering for a post viewing discussion about how this information helps you with your own composting projects.  Click here to watch the pre-recorded Advanced Composting: Building Quality with Recipes, Testing, Nutrient Management & Environmental Planning Source: CT Compost Conference Webinar Series (Partnership of CRC&D, CT NOFA, CT DEEP and others), September 23, 2020. Speakers: Domingo Medina of CT NOFA/Peels and Wheels Composting. Dawn Pettinelli of the UConn Soil Science Lab and Master Composter Program, Jim Hyde of USDA NRCS.  

CT Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Winter Conference:  March 6 & 13th. The conference kicked off in 1983, when a group of organic farmers in Connecticut began gathering in the winter months to share what they had learned during the growing season. For years, these farmers met and shared ideas and methods over a potluck lunch. In the late 2000s, the gathering outgrew its grassroots potluck, and the event began to include local restaurants and vendors of organic, local, and sustainable goods. Today CT NOFA joins forces with Rhode Island NOFA to deliver the event virtually – attracting organic farmers, fans, foodies, gardeners, and families. This year look for a Farmer/ Gardener meet-ups.  Click here to learn more and to register:

Browse our Easton Garden Club Events page - our programs are open to the public. Keep checking back as we add to our new Resources library!

- Jean Stetz-Puchalski