December Classes

DIY Gift Wrapping

Anne Lies
Sunday, December11, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15

Bring a friend or family member: Register 2 people for $25, parent/child (age 10+) pairs welcome!

Every year, Americans generate an estimated 6 million tons of extra waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s—and about 80% of that is gift wrap and paper bags! But stepping out of that waste cycle doesn’t have to mean being a Scrooge. This hands-on workshop will explore fun, creative, and beautiful alternatives to ho-hum(bug) gift wrapping. Whether you prefer your gifts artfully concealed or elegantly showcased, you’ll learn plenty of ways to make this a low-waste holiday season.

Please being a gift to wrap (or purchase a gift at Egg|Plant!) We wiil provide shared tools and materials. If you prefer your own supples, the following are suggested:

• Paper cutter or scissors
• Craft knife
• Tape
• Recyclable papers (such as newspaper, magazines, cereal or other boxes)
• Recycled/recyclable ribbon, yarn, etc.
• Any fabric you’d like to experiment with

Anne Lies is a writer/editor, urban gardener, fiber arts teacher, and Egg|Plant family member who grows, creates, and recycles in Minneapolis.

November Classes

Make a Holiday Wreath

Molly Rosenberg
Sunday, November 27, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $40, includes materials for take-home wreath and hanging ornament

Molly Rosenberg, the creative mind behind Molly's Gardens, shows you how to create holiday swags and wreaths using natural and organic materials. Cost includes materials to make and take your own creation.

Canning Holiday Gifts

Flannery Clark
Sunday, November 20, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

Learn how to safely can gifts for the holidays.  This class will focus on canning apple pie filling, but the lessons apply to canning jam, jelly, pickles, and more!  The demonstration will cover canning in traditional mason jars as well as Weck canning jars for a beautiful holiday gift.  Participants will receive a handout with protocols for safe canning, and recommendations for supplies and recipes. 

Flannery Clark started helping her mother make jam at age 5.  20+ years later, she is a prize winning canner who has earned ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair, and spends much of her summer making jam, jelly, pickles and more.

October Classes

Home Cheese making - Jodi Ohlsen Read
Sunday, October 23, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25, limit 15

This class will cover the basics of home cheese making, focusing on fresh cheese and including a demonstration of ricotta. Jodi produces artisan cheeses and does outstanding half-day cheese workshops at Shepherd's Way Farm in Nerstrand, MN. She taught our first cheese-making class in September 2010, and we are honored to have her make another trip to Egg|Plant.

Backyard Chicken Basics: Winterizing - Bob Lies
Sunday, October 16, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. This class will review the basics of backyard flock management with a special emphasis on helping you bring your flock through the long Minnesota winter in (relative) comfort.  There will be time to address your specific concerns, so bring your questions.

Intro to Beekeeping - Jacquelynn Goessling
Saturday, October 8, 2011, 1:00-3:00 pm

Cost: $20

Become one with the hive mind with this informational overview of beekeeping. This class will answer all of the questions you want answered: hive boxes and equipment; rules and regulations; seasonal care; lifecycle of the honey bee; breeds; apiary suppliers and more. This class will prepare you for the beekeeping class offered at the University of Minnesota.

Jacquelynn Goessling runs United Nectar, an urban apiary in its fourth year with 14 urban hives.

Fermentation - Russ Henry
Sunday, October 2, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15

From the fall garden to the kitchen, this class will help gardeners prepare for the winter to come. We’ll start by talking about fall harvest, winter garden preparations, and bulb planting, then we’ll learn how to best preserve our fall vegetable harvest through the delicious, nutritious art of vegetable fermentation! Russ will bring in some of his favorite home made recipes to share with everyone! This dynamic class will help gardeners wrap their hearts and taste buds around the connection between the garden and the kitchen!

Russ Henry runs Giving Tree Gardens, a full service organic gardening and landscaping company locally owned and operated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

September Classes

Care of Young Fruit Trees - Rebecca Koetter
Saturday, September 17, 12:00-12:45 pm and 3:00-3:45 pm
Cost: FREE

Topics to be covered will include fruit tree planting, mulching, watering, pruning (very basic), reasons for fruit sanitation, rodent protection, and product supply needs. These classes support Hamline Midway Environmental Group's (HMEG) goal of offsetting tree canopy losses in the Midway due to emerald ash borer and help ensure good production from fruit trees that are included in this distribution.

These workshops are specifically designed for the HMEG Tree Team fall 2011 distribution, but they are free and open to anyone. No reservations required.

Rebecca Koetter is a Research Fellow at the UMN and a full time manager of several edible trees and shrubs at the TRE Nursery and on the St Paul U of MN campus. She works on urban forestry outreach education programs with the Department of Forest Resources in St. Paul.

August Classes

Grow Garlic! - Nilgün Tuna
Sunday, August 28, 2011, 1:00-2:30 pm

Cost: $15

Yes, you can grow delicious organic heirloom garlic in Minnesota! This class covers garlic varieties, sources, soil preparation, growing, harvesting scapes and bulbs, saving seed garlic, curing and storage. Taught by State Fair Garlic Red Ribbon winner and Master Gardener, Nilgün Tuna.

Nilgün Tuna has been an organic gardener since 1986 and has grown garlic for the past ten years. She has won the red ribbon for her garlic at the State fair four times, and strives for the elusive blue ribbon!

Canning Basics: Focus on Tomatoes

Flannery Clark
Sunday, August 21, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

Overwhelmed by the tomatoes in your garden or at the farmers market?  Learn how to safely can your own tomatoes!  This class will cover the basics by demonstrating canning tomatoes for sauce and a savory tomato jam and canning them in a water-bath canner.  We will cover protocols for safe canning, and recommendations for supplies and recipes. Lessons from this class are also applicable to making jam or pickles. 

Flannery Clark started helping her mother make jam at age 5.  20+ years later, she is a prize winning canner who has earned ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair, and spends much of her summer making jam, jelly, pickles and more.

July Classes

Worm Composting - Neil Cunningham
Sunday, July 31, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $15 Class only, $45 Class and Worm Bin

This workshop is for beginners, compost enthusiasts, and those wanting to learn more about the ins and outs of worm composting. The cost is $15 for the workshop and $45 if you are interested in leaving the workshop with a fully functional worm bin using the system demonstrated during the workshop.

Neil Cunningham is a writer, working entomologist, urban naturalist, environmental educator, and one of a growing unknown number of advocate/practitioners of the emerging field of urban agriculture.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Sunday, July 24, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

Canning Basics - Flannery Clark
Sunday, July 17, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

Learn how to safely can your own jam, jelly, pickles, and more! This class will cover the basics by demonstrating how to make jam and can it in a water-bath canner. We will cover protocols for safe canning, and recommendations for supplies and recipes..

Flannery Clark started helping her mother make jam at age 5.  20+ years later, she is a prize winning canner who has earned ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair, and spends much of her summer making jam, jelly, pickles and more.

June Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, June 25, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

Food Dehydration - Becca Griffith
Sunday, June 5, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $25

Do you want to have affordable and nutritious meals on hand no matter what happens with our economy? Busy folks, travelers, hikers, survivalists, college students & foodies will learn the ins and outs of food dehydration. This class will equip you with direction and the ability to eliminate "fridge rot." You'll also learn the proper tools, techniques, and recipes for a plentiful supply of meals, snacks, and ingredients to always have on hand. There will be many samples!

Becca Griffith is a naturopath and health educator who delivers life-enhancing principles to the forefront of today’s confusing platform of mixed health messages. In her spare time, she is most likely to be found in her kitchen either concocting food experiments or eating them.

May Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, May 28, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

Worm Composting - Neil Cunningham
Sunday, May 22, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10 Class only, $45 Class and Worm Bin

This workshop is for beginners, compost enthusiasts, and those wanting to learn more about the ins and outs of worm composting. The cost is $10 for the workshop and $45 if you are interested in leaving the workshop with a fully functional worm bin using the system demonstrated during the workshop.

Neil Cunningham is a writer, working entomologist, urban naturalist, environmental educator, and one of a growing unknown number of advocate/practitioners of the emerging field of urban agriculture.

Home Mushroom Growing - Jeremy McAdams
Saturday, May 14, 1:00-2:30 pm
Cost: $20, $40 with starter mushroom log

Growing your own gourmet mushrooms can be easy and nearly maintenance free – perfect for backyards and community garden plots! Learn the basics of how mushrooms grow, how to start and care for your own mushroom logs, and how to cultivate in-ground mushroom beds. Jeremy McAdams runs Cherry Tree House Mushrooms, an urban farm in south Minneapolis that provides log-grown shiitake, oyster and other mushrooms to Twin Cities restaurants and grocery stores.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, May 7, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

From Chicks to Eggs: A Class for Children and Their Parents
Sunday, May 1, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
$10 for parent/child

Introduce your child to the joy of chickens. Together you'll visit the baby chicks and learn how to care for them, then meet the grown up hens where we'll talk about egg laying and sample delicious backyard egg treats.

April Classes

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, April 16, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

Home Mushroom Growing - Jeremy McAdams
Saturday, April 9, 1:00-2:30 pm
Cost: $20, $40 with starter mushroom log

Growing your own gourmet mushrooms can be easy and nearly maintenance free – perfect for backyards and community garden plots! Learn the basics of how mushrooms grow, how to start and care for your own mushroom logs, and how to cultivate in-ground mushroom beds. Jeremy McAdams runs Cherry Tree House Mushrooms, an urban farm in south Minneapolis that provides log-grown shiitake, oyster and other mushrooms to Twin Cities restaurants and grocery stores.

From Chicks to Eggs: A Class for Children and Their Parents
Sunday, April 3, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
$10 for each parent/child pair

Introduce your child to the joy of chickens. Together you'll visit the baby chicks and learn how to care for them, then meet the grown up hens where we'll talk about egg laying and sample delicious backyard egg treats.

Backyard Chicken Basics - Bob Lies
Saturday, April 2, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10

Taught by Egg|Plant co-owner Bob Lies. Bob and Audrey have kept chickens in their St. Paul backyard for the last four years.  They started their chicken adventures raising chicks for the Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota, and have experienced both the joys and troubles of keeping chickens in the city.

This class will cover all aspects of backyard flock management in the Twin Cities: getting permits, choosing suitable varieties, raising chicks, coop and run requirements, feed and nutrition, common health issues, predators, cold-climate care, chickens in the garden, composting chicken waste, etc.  There will be plenty of time for questions, and hands-on time with live chicks and hens.

March Classes

Home Cheese making - Jodi Ohlsen Read
Saturday, March 26, 1:30 pm
Cost: $25, limit 15

This class will cover the basics of home cheesemaking, focusing on fresh cheese and including a demonstration of ricotta. Jodi produces artisan cheeses and does outstanding half-day cheese workshops at Shepherd's Way Farm in Nerstrand, MN. She taught our first cheese-making class in September 2010, and we are honored to have her make another trip to Egg|Plant.

Growing and Cooking Hmong and Asian Vegetables - Mhonpaj Lee
Sunday, March 20, 1:00 pm
Cost: $15

Mhonpaj Lee helps run Mhonpaj's Garden, the first Hmong-owned certified organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Minnesota. They grow over 30 different varieties of vegetables and sell them through local grocery stores, area farmers markets, and their own CSA shares. Egg|Plant is a drop-site for CSA subscribers in 2011.

Growing Organic Heirloom Tomatoes from Seed - Nilgun Tuna

Sunday March 13, 1-3 pm

Cost: $12

Learn to grow tasty heirloom tomatoes using organic methods, the
way they were meant to be grown. Learn to select varieties of seed or
seedlings for your needs, how to start your own seeds, prepare soil,
plant, mulch, support, harvest and store your tomatoes.

Maple Tapping
Sunday, March 6, 1:00 pm
Cost: Free

We're tapping the Egg|Plant Maple! Come and see a hands-on demonstration of maple tapping and get some basic instructions on how to process sap to make your own maple syrup.

February Classes

Urban Chickens 101 - Al Bourgeois
Sunday, February 27, TWO SESSIONS

12:00-2:00 pm, 2:00-4:00 pm
Cost: $10

Fresh eggs and crazy chicken antics are just two good reasons for keeping a few hens in the back yard. This class will cover everything you need to know to start up a small flock of chickens in your back yard, with an emphasis on coop design for weathering the cruel Minnesota winters.

Al Bourgeois teaches urban chicken classes, builds chicken coops and compost bins around the metro area with his company, The Chicken Enthusiast. He keeps a small flock of chickens for entertainment, eggs and fertilizer.

Learn to Brew Your Own Kombucha - Bryan Deane Bertsch
Saturday, February 19, 2:00-3:30 pm
Cost: $25

Join Bryan Deane Bertsch, brewmaster of Deane's Kombucha, and learn how to brew your own Kombucha - a fermented beverage packed with probiotics and enzymes that promote detoxification, energy boost, weight loss and immune support. Plus it tastes great!

Learn the first fermentation process, which yields a great drink. And also learn the nuances of the second fermentation and confidently add your own flavors to bring a unique taste and sparkling effervescence to each bottle. Plus walk home with a Mother SCOBY and some starter tea to begin right away.

Worm Composting - Neil Cunningham
Sunday, February 6, 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: $10 Class only, $45 Class and Worm Bin

This workshop is for beginners, compost enthusiasts, and those wanting to learn more about the ins and outs of worm composting. The cost is $10 for the workshop and $45 if you are interested in leaving the workshop with a fully functional worm bin using the system demonstrated during the workshop.

Neil Cunningham is a writer, working entomologist, urban naturalist, environmental educator, and one of a growing unknown number of advocate/practitioners of the emerging field of urban agriculture.

January Classes

Seed Starting Basics- Courtney Tchida
Saturday, January 29, 1:00-2:30 pm
Cost: $10

It's time! Starting your own seeds allows you to pick varieties you love, grow many plants for less money, and brighten up late winter days with the promise of summer gardens. Learn about seed selection, seed starting soil mixes, flats and pots, lighting, temperature and fertilizers for optimum growth.

Courtney Tchida is currently the Student Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Minnesota where she coordinates the graduate and undergraduate minors in sustainable agriculture and the Cornercopia Student Organic Farm. She is a member of the Teacher's Guild of the Permaculture Research Institute - Cold Climate.

2010 Classes

For a listing of classes held last year at Egg|Plant, click the heading above.