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Establish Native Grasses Field Day

A free native grasses seed collecting field day is being sponsored by 
the Sustainable Farming Association of Southeast Minnesota at the Vic 
Ormsby farm on Sunday, October 5th, 1:00 p.m., starting at the Prairie 
Moon Nursery in Wiscoy Valley (near Winona).
	   Learn to establish native grasses in your pastures inexpensively. 
This tour will focus on the hardy, warm season native grasses which 
are most productive during July and August when most cool season 
pasture grasses are dormant. Native grasses have a six to ten foot 
root zone (compared to most cool season pasture grasses which have a 
four inch root zone) which is very efficient at recycling nutrients, 
has tremendous soil holding capabilities (great for erosion control on 
steep slopes), is resistant to soil compaction, and productive in 
drought summers. Native grasses are highly nutritious for ruminants, 
hold their nutritional value into the winter, and extend the 
productivity of pasture. They are self-seeding once established. 
	Vic Ormsby will teach us to identify native grasses in their seed 
bearing stage, show us how to collect the seed and transplant mature 
plants. 
	Directions to the farm are: From Winona start at the intersection of 
Hwy. 61 and Hwy. 43 (Hot Fish Shop, Quality Inn, Kwik Trip), continue 
past the Vo-Tech and follow Cty. 17 up the hill to Witoka (if you 
accidentally follow 43 to Wilson just go across the overpass and 
follow the Hwy. 90 directions), stay on Cty. 17, approximately 1/4 
mile past Witoka turn right and  go under the interstate and continue 
3.6 miles until you see Prairie Moon Nursery on your right, pull in by 
the roadside native flower garden area. From Interstate 90 take the 
Winona exit, 43 north, turn right and then immediately left on Cty. 19 
(a T), go 5.8 miles (black top turns to gravel, lots of turns), in the 
valley turn left on Cty. 17, go 1.5 miles, Prairie Moon Nursery is on 
your left. 
Watch for field day signs.
	The Sustainable Farming Association of Southeast Minnesota is 
dedicated to farmer to farmer education, sharing and fellowship. For 
more information about SFA, please contact Bev Sandlin, coordinator, 
at 507/689-2988 or e-mail: storm@rconnect.com.

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