Homegrown: August 2012 calendar

Following are gardening and eco-events happening in Eastern Iowa in August 2012:

Wed., Aug. 1, 5 p.m., Chauncey Swan Park, 460 E. Washington St., Iowa City; Backyard Abundance: Inoculating the garden with edible mushrooms. In cooperation with Iowa City Parks and Recreation, Backyard Abundance is implementing edible landscaping in two beds at Chauncey Swan Park, home of the Iowa City Farmers Market. From start to finish, you can watch this edible landscape emerge during free educational sessions at the Iowa City Farmers Market. This session covers growing edible and medicinal mushrooms in your landscape. It will be held in the shady bed across from New Pioneer. For more information and to see Fri. the design: http://www.backyardabundance.org/Services/RecentProjects.aspx

Fri., Aug. 3, 8-9:30 p.m., Family Fun Friday: Night Sky Tour, Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE. August skies are famous for summer constellations, moon gazing, meteorites, and planet watching. Join naturalist and astronomer Jenny Rupp for an evening under the prairie sky. Register by 4:00 PM Thursday, August 2. Families: M: $10; NM: $15; Individuals: M: $4; NM: $5

Sat., Aug. 4, 3-6:00 p.m. Cedar Amateur Astronomers Program - The Sun; Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center, 1365 Ivanhoe Road,  Ely.  CAA Member Carl Bracken will explore the latest solar observing techniques and mission updates. The presentation will show up-to-date information about the various regular solar observing operations that take place every day-from ground based sites and orbiting satellites dedicated to solar observing-and how that information is used to relate back to everyday life on the surface and for ISS crews in orbit. We will also showcase modern user-friendly solar telescopes and safe observing practices. Weather permitting, direct solar observation will follow the presentation on the grounds of the EIOLC. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and properly filtered telescopes are required!  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: Free.

Sat., Aug. 4, 1 p.m., Become an Archaeologist; Indian Creek Nature Center. Adults are invited to study and handle a broad sample of Native American artifacts and reproductions from the collections of the Office of the State Archaeologist and learn to interpret a model plains earth lodge archaeological site. M: $4; NM: $6.

Thurs., Aug. 9, noon,  What Early Danish Settlers Found in Iowa; Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa. Join Rich Patterson, the great-grandson of Danish immigrant Andreas Pedersen (Patterson), at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn for a discussion on the Iowa landscape before and during settlement. The indoor Brown Bag Lunch program is followed by a walk to the growing prairie. Co-sponsored by the Danish Immigrant Museum and the Indian Creek Nature Center. Free.

Sat., Aug. 11, 10 a.m., REAL Walk: Exploring Bena Brook; Indian Creek Nature Center. Explore the geology and unique flora and fauna of Bena Brook, a cool spot on a warm day! This will be a moderately vigorous, wet hike. Meet in the Lynch Wetland parking lot and bring boots or wading shoes. For adults of any age. M: $3; NM: $4

Sat., Aug. 11, 9-11 a.m., Sowing Fall Greens, Chauncey Swan Park, 460 E. Washington St., Iowa City; Backyard Abundance:  In cooperation with Iowa City Parks and Recreation, Backyard Abundance is implementing edible landscaping in two beds at Chauncey Swan Park, home of the Iowa City Farmers Market. From start to finish, you can watch this edible landscape emerge during free educational sessions at the Iowa City Farmers Market. It will be held in the sunny bed. For more information and to see the design: http://www.backyardabundance.org/Services/RecentProjects.aspx

Wed., Aug. 15, 5-7 p.m., Chauncey Swan Park, 460 E. Washington St., Iowa City; Backyard Abundance: Build a natural log bench. In cooperation with Iowa City Parks and Recreation, Backyard Abundance is implementing edible landscaping in two beds at Chauncey Swan Park, home of the Iowa City Farmers Market. From start to finish, you can watch this edible landscape emerge during free educational sessions at the Iowa City Farmers Market. This session will be held in the sunny bed. For more information and to see the design: http://www.backyardabundance.org/Services/RecentProjects.aspx

Fri., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., Discover & Explore a Prairie; Indian Creek Nature Center. Prairies, like ice cream, come in different flavors with unique stories to tell. Sample a prairie reconstruction and a sand prairie. Learn about Iowa's wet prairies. Botanist Christine Kirpes helps you discover unique adaptations prairie wildflowers have made to survive their incredibly harsh conditions. Discover an amazing world that provides critical environmental services to Iowa. M: $4; NM: $5; Children 12 and under: $1

Fri., Aug. 17, 7 p.m,   Dan Carmody, "Developing Regional Food Systems" and Emily Torgrimson, “Eat for Equity: using community meals to support charitable organizations;” Decorah, Iowa – Seed Savers Exchange, Inc., a leading non-profit organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds, announces its Harvest Lecture Series.The series is designed to connect everyday gardeners and eaters with professionals in the food and seed industries. The Harvest Lecture Series is based on the Science Café model of engaging the general public in a casual setting, an atmosphere where everyone joins in. These lectures and discussions are meant to involve people who may not typically have these conversations. The lecture series will take place in the barn loft at historic Heritage Farm near Decorah.  Dan Carmody is the President of the Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, MI, where he leads the non-profit charged with converting one of the nation's oldest and largest public markets into the nation's most comprehensive healthy metropolitan food hub. Carmody will be joined by Emily Torgrimson, founder and Executive Director of Eat for Equity, a non-profit that stages community meals and uses the donations to fund the work of charitable organizations. Featured on the Today Show, Eat for Equity has branches in Minneapolis, Boston, Portland, Washington D.C. and Phoenix. Each lecture begins at 7:00 pm and costs $10. Refreshments will be served by Oneota Food Coop in Decorah beginning at 6:30. Founded in 1975, Seed Savers Exchange operates an 890-acre farm in northeast Iowa where thousands of rare fruit, vegetable, and other plant varieties are regenerated and preserved in a central collection. Its mission is conserving and promoting America's culturally diverse but endangered food crop heritage for future generations by collecting, growing, and sharing heirloom seeds and plants. For information visit www.seedsavers.org.

Sat., Aug. 18, 10:30a.m.; Wandering Adventure Club - Blindfold Wander at Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville. How do you wander when you are blindfolded?  By letting your children lead you!  Put your trust in your kids to guide you on the trail and help you “see” the nature around you with your other senses.  Prepare yourself to smell, feel, and hear (maybe even taste?!) things your kids think you should experience.  Maybe if you're good, your kids will let you swap and lead them! Families with children ages 3 to 7 come join our club adventuring through the changing Iowa environments at Wickiup Hill!  Adults and children explore together on these fun, themed wanders that are designed to encourage the discovery of nature in a casual and engaging setting.  Sign up to receive at home adventure missions and advanced information about each wander by emailing adventureclubiowa@gmail.com.  Please join the Wandering Adventure Club on Facebook to stay informed and share!  With all wanders, dress for the weather, bring a snack and water, and a camera if you'd like.  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: Free.

 Sat., Aug. 18, 2 p.m., Ely Seed Lending Library. Garden Tour and Tomato Tasting. Start at the library at 1595 Dows St., Ely, and tour gardens that have used seeds from the library. Afterward, return to the library to sample tomatoes. Free.

Sat., Aug. 18, 8 p.m., Stories of the Night Sky - Fontana Park Nature Center, 1883 125th St., Hazleton. Free. Additional information available in the newsletter posted on the website at www.buchanancountyparks.com

Sat., Aug. 18, 8 p.m.; Cedar Amateur Astronomers Program - Black Holes at Eastern Iowa Observatory and Learning Center, 1365 Ivanhoe Road,  Ely.  University of Iowa instructor Miss Catherine Whiting will explore black holes which are some of the strangest and most mysterious objects in the universe.  They are regions of space where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape, not even light.  The presentation will provide an overview of black holes, including their presence in popular culture, how they form, where to find them, and how we know they exist.  Catherine will also discuss why black holes are important to physicists who are trying to form unified theories of the universe's fundamental forces. Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: Free.

 Sun., Aug. 19, 9 a.m.,Rendezvous at Ralston Creek; Hickory Hill Park, Iowa City. Every time you cross a creek on the east side of Iowa City, it is Ralston Creek.   Draining 8.9 square miles, this creek and its watershed are a mirror of the history of Iowa City, our values as a community, and our relations with nature.   The creek is marked by centuries of human contact, as well as dangerous floods.  What does it have to tell us about what Iowa Citians have valued over time? –  mineral springs or real estate, high ground versus wetlands, plums, berries, timber, coal, railroads and industry, sewage disposal, visual aesthetics, suburban development? The “Rendezvous at Ralston Creek” will be the first of a series of monthly nature walks sponsored by the Johnson County Heritage Trust.  The leader will be Laura Rigal, professor of American Studies and English, who is writing a book about Ralston Creek.  The walk will begin with a short talk by Professor Rigal at the Hickory Hill Park, Bloomington Street Shelter house at 9 am, Sunday, August 19.  People will then proceed up the creek to the nearby Flood Impoundment, built in ­­­­­­­­­1983, where Professor Rigal will talk about the effects of the Impoundment on Creek ecology.  The walk, talk, and question period will end at 10:30. The event is free and open to the public, not just Johnson County Heritage Trust members, though contributions are welcome. Sign up for the walk by calling the Johnson County Heritage Trust office at 338-7030 or Bob Sayre at 338-1428 – or just come to the Shelter house.   For further information go to the Trust website, www.jcht.org

Sun. Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m.,“Queen of the Sun”-National Honeybee Awareness Day; Indian Creek Nature Center. Enjoy the award-winning film Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?. This engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world. M: $4; NM: $5; Children 12 and under: $1

Wed., Aug. 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Seed-Saving: How and Why, with Roxane Mitten. $5/person. Class held at New Pioneer Co-op's Earth Source Gardens on Harvest Lane at the NE corner of N. Scott Blvd. and Rochester Ave., Iowa City. Learn about the time honored tradition of saving seeds from year to year. It is an opportunity to preserve rare, favored strains, and be more secure in your seed sourcing. Roxane will lead a general discussion of seed saving, and then move to identifying plant parts, how pollination occurs, and how to keep the strains pure. In the “hands-on” part of the class we will examine and work with available plant material.

Sat., Aug. 25 and Sat., Sept. 1, Monarch Tagging, Buchanan County.  Location TBD by available nectar plants.  Those registered will be contacted with location. Monarch tagging is $3/person or $7/family.

Sat., Aug. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,  Brucemore Garden & Art Show, 2160 Linden Dr. SE. Costs:   Adult and Youth (ages 11+) - $6.00. The annual Brucemore Garden & Art Show will return amidst the historic charm of the Brucemore gardens and landscape. More than 60 artists and garden vendors from across the Midwest will share their expertise by showcasing unique products, vivid presentations, and pertinent information, including ceramics, plantings, jewelry, sculpture, glass, textiles, and more.

Educational opportunities will captivate attendees, whether it's engaging in a one-on-one conversation, participating in an interactive demonstration, or listening to a featured lecture. Enjoy local and organic food by on-site vendors Braise, Brewed Awakenings, and HyVee. No pets, coolers, or outside food allowed during the event. Food and beverage vendors will be available on-site.

Featured vendors:

• “In the Country Garden and Gifts” will be back with a wide variety of hostas, water plants, and succulents.
• New this year, Susan Kennicott will have a number of her vibrant petal paintings available for purchase.

• Admission is $6 per person.
• Children 10 and under free when accompanied by an adult.

• Parking is off-site. Parking and shuttle buses to and from Brucemore will be available from Washington High School, 2205 Forest Dr. SE.
• Handicap parking is available on-site by entering the First Avenue gate only.

Native American Cultural Day

Sat., Aug. 25, 10:30a.m. to 4 p.m., Native American Cultural Day; Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville will be highlighting Native American traditions during a cultural celebration that will include the Brown Otter Singers from the Meskwaki Settlement and Native American artists.  Historically, a small group of Meskwaki families spent the winter months camped along the Cedar River north of Cedar Rapids in an area that has been called Wickiup Hill for generations. Today, the Linn County Conservation Department manages this area for recreation and education. Wickiup is the Meskwaki word for the type of house used during the winter camping season. Activities during the day include dance exhibitions in which the public will be asked to participate. Dancing and singing demonstrations will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up.  Cost: $5.00/individual or $10/family. For more information, contact Gail Barels at 319-892-6485.

Thurs., Aug. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.; Monarch Tagging at Wickiup Hill. You are invited to come see monarchs up close and learn about their amazing migration and the ecology of winter roosting sites. The monarch tagging program at Wickiup Hill helps determine if this summer's hot and dry weather has affected the monarch populations.  Identification tags are placed on the wings of the butterflies and then they are released.  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: $2.50/adult, $1/child (16 and under) or $5/family.

Fri., Aug. 31, 5-7 p .m, Sweet Corn and Kale Fest Garden Party, with Dr. Terry Wahls

New Pioneer Co-op's Earth Source Gardens, Harvest Lane (at the NE corner of Rochester Ave. and N. Scott Blvd.), Iowa City. Kale of every color and kind thrives in New Pi's Earth Source Gardens, and Dr. Terry Wahls loves them all! Come hear Dr. Wahls speak, and learn how to “massage” your kale for greater tenderness and better flavor. Sample the abundance and variety of garden veggies, and tour the two-acre community gardens! Enjoy live swing music by Tin Pan Prairie-Tones and savor grilled sweet corn and the popular Mexican sweet corn called Elote. No registration needed - THIS EVENT IS FREE!

Fri., Aug. 31, 8 p.m., Blue Moon Walk; Indian Creek Nature Center. Every once in a while, we are treated to a month with two full moons-the second being called a “blue” moon. Join us for a leisurely walk under the blue moon to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature at night along our prairie trails. The trail surface is mown grass and has level terrain.  M: $4; NM: $5; Children 12 and under: $1