| MARCH 1, 2013 -- The Kelley Farm, located in Elk River, Minnesota, will be hosting a series of workshops this winter, including Seed Savers Exchange, Hot Beds and Cold Frames, and Build and Birdhouse.
The Seed Savers Exchange Workshop will be held on March 10, 2012 at 2:00 PM. The Kelley Farm has been a leader in seed saving activities in Minnesota since 1981. The program, offered in the Visitor Center, will include a presentation on how to save, store and plant seeds, then save them again, just as farmers and gardeners have done for thousands of years. Participants do not need to bring seeds in order to take seeds home. A seed art project will be available for children. This free event is open to people with all levels of gardening interest and experience.
The Hot Beds and Cold Frames Workshop will teach participants how to make hot beds and cold frames to expand the Minnesota gardening season in the spring and fall. This workshop will be held on March 16, 2012 from 9:00 AM to Noon. Through illustrated discussion and hands-on activities, participants will learn the difference between hot beds and cold frames, see several different types in use and help construct one of each. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. There is a $18.00 materials fee per person. Reservations and pre-payment required.
Birds are a valuable resource for gardeners and farmers, aiding in insect control and pollination of plant varieties. In the Build a Birdhouse Workshop, held in the Visitor's Center on April 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, participants will build a birdhouse to take home. All tools and equipment are provided. This program is good for families, grandparents and grandchildren and other groups including Scouts. There is a $10 per birdhouse fee for materials. Reservations and prepayment are required.
Oliver H. Kelley and his wife Lucy began farming the land on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1850. Kelley was the founder of the first successful national farming organization, the Patrons of Husbandry, better known as the Grange. The Kelley Farm is recognized as "The birthplace of organized agriculture in America."
The working 1860's farm is located at 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., 2.5 miles southeast of downtown Elk River on U.S. Hwy. 10. It is a National Historic Landmark operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. For more information, or to make reservations for the workshops, call 763-441-6896. You can visit their website at http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/ohkf/ |
