Homegrown: December calendar

Following are gardening and eco-events coming to Eastern Iowa in December 2010:

Thurs., Dec. 2, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Our Woodland Legacy Symposium, Trees Forever, Cedar Rapids Country Club, 550 27th St. Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids. Finding Common Ground: Can Engineers, Developers and Conservationists work together for a green future? Cost: $15 for Trees Forever members; $20 for non-members (includes lunch.) Contact: Jo Ann McNiel 800-369-1269 x18. jmcniel@treesforever.org

Sat., Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to noon, Nature's Noel, Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Road SE, Cedar Rapids. Spruce up your home for the holidays with fresh greens, gifts and goodies. This annual fundraiser, presented by the Indian Creek Nature Center Guild, features natural holiday centerpieces, ornamentals, wreaths and swags made with fresh greens plus a variety of handmade woodcrafts and gifts. Stock your pantry with frozen soups prepared by Kirkwood Community College's Culinary Arts Department, frozen appetizers, cookie dough, holiday baked goods and candies. Bring your shopping list and visit vendor booths filled with delightful handmade wares. Live music adds to the festive atmosphere at the sale.  Our elves have been busy but this sale goes quickly so shop early for the best selection!  Proceeds support the mission and programs of the Indian Creek Nature Center.

Sat., Dec. 4, 1-5 p.m., Beginning Farmer Workshop,  Iowa Valley RC&D directions Join others like yourself who want to start or improve a business of growing and selling local food to consumers. Andy Larson, ISU Extension program specialist for small farm sustainability, and Dave Baker, ISU Beginning Farmer Center, will help you write and design a vision for your local food production business, inventory your resources and evaluate your next steps to becoming a successful local food producer. A panel of two veteran producers will be available to share their stories and dreams, offer suggestions, and answer your questions. Cost: $10. Sponsored by the Iowa Valley RC&D. To register and for more information, contact Jason Grimm: jason@ivrcd.org, 319-622-3264.

Sun., Dec. 5, 2-5 p.m., Atlas of Mud Show and Panel Discussion, Riverside Theatre directions Join Working Group Theatre and Friends for an Iowa River Restoration Event. A special showing of Atlas of Mud by Jennifer Fawcett. Winner of the Kennedy Center National Science Playwriting Award. An epic story about sustaining hope in the face of environmental disaster. Followed by a panel discussion about the health of the Iowa River with Joseph Hennager, Blue Planet Green Living; Fred Meyer, Backyard Abundance; Kelley Putman and Kate Giannini, Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District; and Chris Vinsonhaler; Director, Iowa River Call. Call 319-338-7672 for tickets. Receive a discounted price if you state your support for a healthy river. A portion of all tickets sales will go to help restore the Iowa River to health. Learn more: www.workinggrouptheatre.org

Thurs., Dec. 9, 6:30-8 p.m., Winter bird feeding class, Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha.  Audubon member Jim Durbin will talk about the many types of birdseed, winter feeders and what types of birds you might attract in the winter season. Fee is $5. See: www.prairiewoods.org

Fri., Dec. 10, 2-3 p.m., Herbert Hoover National Historic Site invites filmmakers and photographers to attend a free orientation on how to obtain a permit to use the park as a setting for commercial photography. Commercial filming and photography in national parks such as Herbert Hoover NHS require a special use permit. Special uses are short-term activities in the park that benefit an individual, group or organization, rather than the public at large. The permitting system helps allow special uses of the park without impairing recreational visitors' access to or enjoyment of the park. The park is hoping to use this orientation to begin the planning process for a photo competition and art show to be held in the spring on the grounds of the Village Green within the historic site. The orientation begins  in the Visitor Center and may include a tour of the park. Refreshments will be provided. Those interested in attending may contact Peter Pappas or Adam Prato at (319) 643-2541. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space.

Fri., Dec. 10, 6-8 pm, Terra Madre Eat-In, Wesley Center, 120 N Dubuque St, Iowa City.  Join Local Foods Connection and other local delegates in sharing food and stories from Terra Madre 2010. Plan to bring a dish to share that celebrates local and slow food, as well as your own tableware. Terra Madre is an international Slow Food conference that brings together farmers, chefs, students and activists who together support sustainable agriculture, fishing, and breeding with the goal of preserving taste and biodiversity. Local delegates to Terra Madre 2010, as well as past delegates, will be sharing their experiences and stories from this event. "An EAT-IN is the social and political act of sharing a communal meal, in celebration of food and those who produce it. An EAT-IN is a form of group celebration; a moment to slow down and appreciate our local food systems, to taste the collaborative efforts of producers and chefs, to share stories with friends and strangers, and to highlight the accomplishments of those whose passion and determination keep the hope of a sustainable agricultural future alive." (From Slow Food's Youth Food Movement) We'll be cooking some dishes at the Wesley Center, starting at 4:00 and could use some extra hands. If you'd like to help cook or set up, contact Bethany Bender at bethany.vistajc@gmail.com

Sat., Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Backyard Abundance, Design a Peace Garden, 1276 Skylark Drive, Cedar Rapids. Blair Frank hosts this Cultivating Community event at his acreage to help people learn how to design soul-nourishing gardens. Gather and tour the kitchen garden, playground, fire pit, labyrinth and other garden areas. There is a water line from rain barrels to the center of the peace garden with plans for a pond at the top and bottom with a waterfall connecting the two in the center of the Peace Garden. Primary work will be to redesign the Peace Garden with edible landscaping and permaculture elements transitioning to more perennials, ground cover crops, and a tree or two that will help resist erosion. Potluck lunch at 1 p.m. Bring a drum and we can drum and/or howl around the fire pit after the “Peace-Making” work is done.  Blair will provide carrot ginger soup, coffee, tea and you are invited to bring bread and/or festive snacks to share. We will be invited to share insights and collective wisdom on other sites during and after our potluck lunch. Directions: 1276 Skylark Dr SE is located on the left 1 block past the 4 way stop on the “square” in downtown Bertram. 1276 is the 2nd driveway on left: from Hwy 13 no RR tracks or creek-just follow the road as it curves.

Sat., Dec. 18, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Winter on the Farm, Heritage Farm at Seed Savers Exchange, 3094 North Winn Road, Decorah. Community members are invited to come out for free festivities at the farm, including horse-drawn sleigh rides and old-fashioned holiday treats. Holiday shoppers will also benefit from special one-day-only sales at the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center. Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit, member supported organization that saves and shares the heirloom seeds of our garden heritage, forming a living legacy that can be passed down through generations. Located at 890-acre Heritage Farm, just north of Decorah, Iowa, Seed Savers Exchange is open to the public from March to December. For more information: 563-382-6104 or see: www.seedsavers.org

Tues., Dec. 21, 6:30-8 p.m., Winter Solstice program, Prairiewoods, Hiawatha. As humans we often forget or ignore our intimate connection with the whole web of life. Join us as we celebrate that connection at the winter solstice seasonal celebration. We will welcome the coming season with indoor and outdoor festivities, so please dress accordingly. Pre-registration one day prior to the event is appreciated. Free-will offering. See: www.prairiewoods.org

Tues., Dec. 21, 7 p.m., Winter Solstice Celebration, Indian Creek Nature Center. December 21 is the shortest day and longest night of the year. For centuries many cultures have celebrated the solstice as the turning point of increasing sunlight hours. Join us to make sand candles to celebrate sunlight, share cultural stories of winter, and enjoy a full moon walk on ICNC's Cedar Greenbelt Trails. M: $3, NM: $4.

Tues., Dec. 28, 2 p.m., GPS Fun in the Snow, Indian Creek Nature Center, No matter the season, a geocache hunt is an exciting outdoor activity. Learn how to use a GPS unit while discovering the fun outdoor family sport of geocaching. A geocache is hidden treasure you find using GPS. Bring your own unit or call to reserve one of ours.

M Adult: $4, NM Adult: $5; M Child: $2, NM Child: $3.

Wed., Dec. 29, 2 p.m., Iowa's Winter Birds, Indian Creek Nature Center. Some birds are residents year around, others migrate to Iowa for the winter. Learn who's who, build a simple feeder from recycled materials, visit our bird blind, and walk to the Cedar River to observe eagles. Dress for the outdoors. M Adult: $4, NM Adult: $5.

Thurs., Dec. 30, 2 p.m., Snowshoe Walk, Indian Creek Nature Center. A snowshoe walk is great winter exercise with the benefit of fresh air, beautiful scenery, and signs of wildlife to enjoy. Bring your own snowshoes or call to reserve a pair of ours. No snow? We will hike instead. Enjoy a cup of hot cocoa after your outdoor adventure.

M Adult: $4, NM Adult: $5; M Child: $2, NM Child: $3.