Homegrown: October Calendar

Following are gardening and eco-events happening in Eastern Iowa during October 2012. Send information on events you don't see here to: cindy.hadish@sourcemedia.net

Tuesday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m., A Paleo Diet-After the Great Columbian Exchange; Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE. Join Rich Patterson to learn how to dabble with a Paleo Diet by identifying, harvesting, preparing and eating wild foods common in urban and rural areas. Dressing a squirrel for food will be demonstrated. Learn the fascinating and still emerging story of the great Columbian Exchange-how food plants and weeds move from continent to continent to pester and help people. M: $5; NM: $6

Wed. Oct. 3, 6-7 p.m., Linn County Master Gardeners: Over-Wintering Houseplants, Tropicals and Annuals; Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St. Did your house plants spend summer outside?  Have you ever wanted to over winter tropical and annuals? Linn County Master Gardener Deb Walser will share what needs to be done before you bring them inside, including  transplanting, bulb storage and insect and disease management. We will talk about the proper placement, lighting, watering, and fertilizing of the most popular houseplants and tropicals.

Saturday, Oct. 6, 1-6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Walking the Labyrinth: Connect to Self, Earth and Community; Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE; co-hosted by Prairiewoods. Trained labyrinth facilitator Sandi Ohlen will serve as keynote workshop leader and will guide participants through a series of programs designed to strengthen how we connect with the earth.  Small break-out sessions will focus on different meditations, the strengths of different labyrinths, and how to incorporate the purposefulness of a labyrinth into everyday life.  Participants will experience a variety of diverse labyrinths, including indoors and outdoors.  Sandi has led women's retreats, labyrinth workshops and contemplative musical programs including Taize worship for several years.  Her passion for the outdoors stems from knowing the connectedness and union of all creation and its life-giving and renewing gifts.  Sandi believes the labyrinth is a powerful ecumenical tool that our world needs to bind together people of all faiths in celebration of common truths as well as to challenge growth toward understanding, acceptance and celebration of differences.  Sandi is a trained Veritas labyrinth facilitator, teacher, certified spiritual director and professional counselor.  The weekend's other breakout sessions include one for people new to labyrinths, led by Leslee Sandberg of Christ Episcopal Church, and one about natural labyrinths, led by Tom Capo of Peoples Unitarian Universalist Church.  The cost of this weekend workshop is $60 and includes all sessions, handouts, Sunday lunch, beverages and snacks.  (Lodging and Sunday breakfast can be added for an additional $62 by calling Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700.)  Registration is required by September 22.  For more information or to register, contact Indian Creek at 319-362-0664 or www.IndianCreekNatureCenter.org Registration required by 3:00 PM Saturday, Sept. 22.

 Saturday, October 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Hoop House and Root Zone Heating Workshop at Prairiewoods, 120 East Boyson Road, Hiawatha. Imagine growing vegetables all through the winter … in a garden in Iowa!  It may seem far-fetched, but Prairiewoods and the Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) are teaming up to make it happen.  Through generous grants from Rockwell Collins, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and Alliant Energy, the Prairiewoods kitchen garden soon will have a hoop house and a root zone heating system to extend the growing season.  In this unique workshop at Prairiewoods, Emy Sautter of Prairiewoods, R.J. Jordan of RJ Construction and representatives of I-Renew will teach you about solar thermal hot water systems and how to build your own hoop house and root zone heating system.  Master Gardener Phil Pfister will lead a brief discussion about best crop choices for this type of gardening.  There will be classroom time, as well as hands on installation work as the class helps to build the hoop house and to install the root zone heating system in the Prairiewoods garden.  Please dress for the weather and for outdoor activities.  The cost is $25 if registered by September 7 and $35 if registered by October 1.  Both prices include a garden-fresh lunch.  For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

Sat., October 6,  10 a.m., at Wickiup Hill, Youth Photo Scavenger Hunt. Linn Area Photo Club will help your child, up to the age of 17; see the world in a whole new light! This photo scavenger hunt will teach basic camera techniques before you set out to hunt for subjects in nature that incorporate colors, shapes, and composition.  Most scavenger hunts ask you to find something and bring it back. This scavenger hunt is different; it asks you and your family to only take pictures of things that can't be brought back.  Scavenger list will be provided during class.  Must register to hunt.  Advanced Registration: Required.   Please call 892-6485 before October 3.  Cost: Free

 Sat., October 6, 10:30a.m. at Wickiup Hill; Wandering Adventure Club - Trailmaster's Choice Wander. The person leading this wander will be honorary Trailmaster and will get to decide where to go and what to do at Wickiup Hill.  Who will be the Trailmaster?  Will it be you? 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., October 6, 7:00- 9:00a.m. for breakfast & rules meeting 9:00a.m.-3:30p.m. for tournament at Manchester. Trout Fishing Tournament. Come and experience this first of its kind tournament for Iowa.  Rally Saturday morning for breakfast, instructions, and receive the tournament emblem handout (necessary for participation) before the competition begins at 9 a.m.  Bring your digital camera and download cord.  Once you've caught your prize trout, snap a photo of your fish with the with the tournament emblem.  Return to the Iowa DNR Trout Hatchery in Manchester by 3:30 p.m. to be included in the competition.  A light meal and fellowship time follows before the prizes are awarded.  Advanced Registration: Call 563-927-4141 or e-mail macc@manchesteriowa.org  or register on-line at www.manchesteriowa.org/home.html.  Limited to 50 participants.  Cost: $25 per registrant prior to Sept 15 - $35 thereafter.  Kids (under 12) eat for $5 and can participate for free.  Special Notes: All Iowa DNR rules and regulations apply.  Linn County Conservation is one of many co-sponsors of this event.

Sat., Oct. 6 and Sun., Oct. 7, The Eastern Iowa Orchid Society is pleased to announce the First Annual Eastern Iowa Orchid Show and Sale.  This event will be co-sponsored by the Kirkwood Floral Careers Program at the Horticulture/Floral Careers Building on the Kirkwood Community College Main Campus, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, in Cedar Rapids. Activities at the event will include: a judged orchid show with displays constructed by orchid societies from Iowa and surrounding states; orchid plants for sale from the most reputable vendors in the region; and educational presentations on a variety of horticultural topics such as using orchids for personal adornment, basic orchid care, native Iowa orchids, and prairie restoration. See the website at: www.orchidmall.com/misc/eios_show.html For more information, contact: Andrew Coghill-Behrends, EIOS President, at mistercoghill@gmail.com John Lorence, Show Chair, at lorence5@aol.com

Mon., October 8, 6:30 – 8 pm, Linn County Master Gardeners Fall Bulb workshop; Greenhouse at Lowe Park, 4500 North 10th St., Marion. Bulbs that will bloom in your house. $6 registration fee.

Wed. October 10, 6-7 p.m., Spring Flowering Bulbs; Linn County Master Gardeners presentation at Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St.  This class looks at the major spring flowering bulbs that are hardy in Iowa:  tulips, daffodils, alliums, and fritillaria.  Linn County Master Gardener Zora Ronan will show the bulbs that bring early spring color to your garden. Free.

Wed., October 10, 3:00p.m. Snack time with the Animals! at Wickiup Hill near Toddville. This is your chance to see predator prey relationships in action.  Come watch a naturalist feed the animals at Wickiup Hill. Learn more about what turtles, snakes and amphibians eat.  Also, learn other interesting tid-bits about the animals we use for our programs and how we got them.  At the end of the feeding program, you will get the chance to touch some of our program animals. Feeding typically lasts 20 - 30 minutes.  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up.  Cost: Free.

 Thurs., October 11, 7:00p.m. at Wickiup Hill; Amana Trading Post Dig. Cynthia Peterson, with the University of Iowa's Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA), investigated several sites near modern South Amana, Iowa, including the Patterson Trading Post and the village of Wacoshashe and Poweshiek. Volunteers greatly aided in this effort, donating over 1,100 hours toward the project's completion.  They participated in activities such as historical research, field and laboratory work, data entry, and graphic design.  Peterson's talk will summarize findings from the sites, including: a yard midden; a small, ash–filled pit; a deep, refuse–filled pit; and a refuse–filled root cellar. Artifacts relating to use of the site as a trading post (1839–1843), a general store (1844–1845) and a residence (to 1855) were also identified.  Pedestrian survey occurred at the nearby 1839–1843 Meskwaki village of Wacoshashe and Poweshiek, showing that the site holds great potential for future research.  Peterson will discuss plans for future work.   Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: $2.50/adult, $1/child (16 and under) or $5/family.

 Friday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to noon; Permeable Paving Workshop: Special Green and Simple Workshop for Contractors. Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE. Craft decorative backyard patios and walkways that provide a solid dry surface yet allow rain to percolate through. This dual workshop, with help from King's Material, will help contractors learn to apply permeable brick surfaces. The Saturday workshop is for homeowners. Registration required by 4:00 PM Wednesday, Oct. 10. Fee: $20

 Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 am to noon; Install Beautiful Permeable Block Walkways or Patios: Special Green and Simple Workshop for Homeowners. Indian Creek Nature Center. A beautiful way to allow precipitation to enter the soil instead of rushing into a storm sewer (and lessening flood chances) is to create walkways and patios using permeable paving blocks. Learn from the experts of King's Material to create a permeable paving project at your home. This is a “hands-on” workshop so wear old clothes and bring gloves.  Registration required by 4:00 PM on Thursday, Oct. 11. Fee: $20

Saturday, Oct. 13, 10:00 a.m.; REAL Walk: Seeds With Legs; Indian Creek Nature Center. Seeds have a challenge to catch the right ride in order to survive. Walk with Naturalist David Brenzel to collect a few hitchhikers and participate in experiments to determine who catches the best ride on what kind of fur. Learn about the devil's claw. REAL Walks are geared for adults. M: $4; NM: $5

 Sat., Oct. 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Seed Savers Exchange Harvest Festival; Decorah, Iowa. Come learn that there is more to American apple diversity than Red Delicious and all her modern cousins. Bring your seeds saved from this year's harvest for the seed swap. Sample antique apple varieties and vote in the Harvest Soup Cook-off featuring area chefs from La Rana, McCaffrey's Dolce Vita, Oneota Community Food Cooperative, and QUARTER/quarter. Other events taking place at the Seed Savers Exchange Harvest Festival-tours, seed swap, apple pressing, and hayrides-begin at noon. Children's activities-squash squisher, pumpkin carving & seed saving, seed packet making and collecting, pillow sack threshing, and a garden scavenger hunt-will be happening all day. Located six miles north of Decorah, Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and distribution of heirloom seeds.  Seed Savers Exchange maintains a collection of thousands of open pollinated varieties, making it one of the largest non-governmental seed banks in the United States.  For information visit www.seedsavers.org.This year Seed Savers Exchange presents several lectures, including two speakers who are devoted to using healthy food as a tool for developing communities. 

• 11:00 am Seed Savers Exchange-“Seed Stories.” Hear the stories and learn how some of our favorite varieties came to be. Seed Savers Exchange launched the Collection Origins Research Effort (CORE), a massive sleuthing effort to collect and record complete histories of thousands of varieties.

• 1:00 pm Emily Torgrimson-“Sponsoring community meals to support charitable organizations.”  Torgrimson is founder 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.

• 3:00 pm Dan Carmody-”Developing Regional Food Systems.” Carmody is the President of the Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, Michigan, 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.

The Harvest Festival is free and open to the public.

Saturday, Oct. 13, 1-4 p.m., Cedar Rapids Tour de Coop at six homes. Spend an afternoon touring backyard chicken coops in garden settings. Owners will discuss their chicken breeds, gardens, and features of their coops. Open to adults and children. Sponsored by CR-CLUC. Booklets with map and directions to sites available at the Nature Center or other site locations. Call 362-0664 for more information. Please leave pets and companion animals at home; many hens are unaccustomed to dogs. Adult: $10. Child: Free. Find more at www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org

 Sun., Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Seed Saving Workshop, Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah. For the garden enthusiast, a full-day workshop on the fundamentals of seed saving will be held.This includes an introduction to seed saving, saving biennials, wet and dry processing and storing seeds. Participants will get hands-on seed saving experience. Preregistration is required. Cost is $40 and includes a box lunch (Seed Savers Exchange members receive a 10% discount). Register at http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?ItemNo=GDNWKSHP. Located six miles north of Decorah, Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and distribution of heirloom seeds.  Seed Savers Exchange maintains a collection of thousands of open pollinated varieties, making it one of the largest non-governmental seed banks in the United States.  For information visit www.seedsavers.org.

 Sunday, Oct. 14, 2 p.m., A Gathering of Shooting Stars, Indian Creek Nature Center. Shooting Star Society members are people who have made a planned gift to the Nature Center, helping it be financially sustainable forever. This free event honors them but all are welcome.  Meet at the barn for an update of many changes planned for the future and a short walk around the immediate grounds led by Rich Patterson and a member of the Board of Trustees.

Tuesday, Oct. 16 or Friday, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m., Polliwog Preschool: Bat Business; Indian Creek Nature Center.  Discover the good things bats do for our environment. Where do they live, what do they eat, and how do these flying mammals hunt? Listen to a story and play a bat game to track down “dinner.” For children aged 3-6 with an adult. Limited to 14 children. Register by 3:00 PM the day prior to the program. M Child: $5;  NM Child: $6; Parents: Free

Wed., October 17, 6-7 p.m., Putting Garden to Bed;  Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St. Linn County Master Gardener Ellen Skripsky will share important tips on cleaning your vegetable garden and amending your soil for vegetable and perennial gardens. Also included will be what can be divided in the fall. Ellen will talk about shrubs, trees and perennials - what to cut and what not to touch. Free.

 Wednesday, October 17, 6:30–8 p.m. Pumpkin Totem Carving Class at Prairiewoods. Enjoy a creative evening outdoors to celebrate the season!  Create your own personalized Pumpkin Totem for your home or yard-you can decide to make it spooky, funny or traditional.  During this class at Prairiewoods (120 East Boyson Road in Hiawatha), you will design, carve and assemble a Master Totem for Prairiewoods and start on your Personal Pumpkin Totem.  Families and individuals are welcome, but parental supervision is required for children 16 and younger.  In case of inclement weather, this fun carving party will be moved indoors.  This class will be limited to 15 people, so please register early.  The Green Living Group, which meets the third Wednesday of each month, will join this program for their October meeting.  The cost is $15 per Personal Pumpkin Totem Starter Kit, which includes one pumpkin and a seven-foot metal T-post.  Participants are asked to bring carving tools and a spoon for scooping.  For more information or to register, contact Prairiewoods at 319-395-6700 or www.Prairiewoods.org.

Fri., October 19, 7 p.m., Harvest Lecture Series, Dan Bussey, "Our Apple Heritage" Decorah, Iowa – Seed Savers Exchange. Dan Bussey is the Orchard Manager at Seed Savers Exchange. Apple historian and orchard keeper, Bussey has written a book on 14,000 apple varieties grown in North America since the 1600s which is scheduled to be published later this year. He owns a four-acre orchard in Wisconsin featuring more than 250 apple varieties. 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., Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m., Brucemore's Autumn Landscape Hike, 2160 Linden Drive SE. Brucemore's bucolic landscape-with its rolling yards, soaring trees, timber-lined pond, and stunning gardens-is more than a beautiful setting, it also exhibits over 120 years of history. Embrace the harvest season by joining Brucemore's gardeners for the Autumn Landscape Hike. Witness the subtle and spectacular dressings of the 26-acre autumnal landscape highlighted by the dusky plum and rusty barn red colors of the season.   Discover current landscape issues, the role of public use, and the seasonal chores required to preserve the historic grounds. See how planting choices with sensitivity to native species and seasonal display affect the overarching impact of a landscape design. Seek advice from Brucemore gardeners and ask questions on topics ranging from particular plantings to landscape design.  Admission is $10.00 per person and $7.00 per Brucemore member. Space is limited. Purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org, by calling (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store and Visitor Center.

 Saturday, Oct 20 10:30 a.m. to noon and Thursday October 25th from 4-5:30 pm. Wicked Wickiup Fall Festival. Kick off the fall season and enjoy a morning of family fun at Wickiup Hill! Use your Wicked Wickiup Passport to navigate through the activity stations, which include:

- Photo Station with Oversized Spider

- Craft Cauldron

- Creepy Critters

- Fall Face Painting (for an additional charge)

- Troll Trail

- Pumpkin Bowling

- Spirited Scarecrow Build

- Luminous Leaf

- Gourd Society Meet & Greet

- Trick or Treat on the Trail

- Straw Scramble

- Halloween Hike Story Trail

Costumes encouraged!  Aimed at ages 3-10, but younger and older siblings welcome! Cost $2/child or $5/family.  Please call and register at least 3 days prior at 892-6485.

 Saturday, Oct. 20, 12:00-1:15 PM What's Hoppin'-in? Ribbit's Nocturnal Neighbors; Indian Creek Nature Center. What nighttime animals are about in the fall? Join Ribbit and Grandma and Grandpa Storyteller for nighttime and fall stories. Enjoy an outdoor walk to look for signs of our nighttime friends and create a mask of your favorite! Bring a picnic at noon or join us at 12:20 PM for storytime but be sure to call and register in advance! Program is geared for children aged 3-7 years with an adult. M Child: $5; NM Child: $6; Adults: Free

 Saturday, Oct. 20, 12:30-2:30 PM Prairie Seeds For Your Yard; Indian Creek Nature Center. After decades of successful prairie restoration, the Center is sharing its seed. Learn restoration basics and seed collection strategies. Spend time with our land steward collecting seed for your prairie project. Bring a paper bag for seed collecting. Fee: $15+large paper bag.

Sunday, October 21, 1 to 4:30 pm, Peck's Free Fall Fun Day for the entire family; Peck's Flower and Garden Shop, 3990 Blairs Ferry Road NE. Co-hosted by WMT AM/FM and KISS Country. You are invited to bring the kids and roam through our nursery, garden center and flower shop to "trick or treat" special designated areas including the Peck's and WMT AM & FM staff.  Costumes are not necessary but are welcomed.  Face painting, games, hayride and other fun activities for kids!  This is a free event.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Outdoor activities are weather permitting.

Mon., October 22, 6:30 - 8:00pm, Join Linn County Master Gardeners in the Greenhouse at Lowe Park, 4500 North 10th Street, Marion, for a House Plants workshop. Favorite houseplants and how to care for them. Free.

Tues., October 23, 7:00p.m. at Wickiup Hill. The Wolf - Moose Research of Isle Royale. How can a single dog cause the death of over 30 wolves and 1500 moose?  The wolves and moose of Isle Royale continue to present surprising new insights, even after 54 years of research in the world's longest ongoing predator - prey study.  Not only do we continue to learn from the inter-relationship of these two species and the impact of man, we are gaining new insights into other inter-relationships including those impacting human health.   Come visit Isle Royale, an island national wilderness in Lake Superior, going off-trail to learn from these fascinating creatures and enjoy the island's pristine nature.   Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: $2.50/adult, $1/child (16 and under) or 2$5/family.

Wed., October 24, 10:00-11:00a.m. at Wickiup Hill. Science for Squirts:  Curduroy's Halloween. Let's read about this special little bear and how he celebrates in the fall. We will hike back to our ‘pumpkin patch' and pick out some pumpkins too! Advanced Registration: Pre-register by calling 892-6485 at least 3 days before program Cost: $2/child

Wed., October 24, 6-7 p.m., Hiawatha Public Library, 150 West Willman St. Linn County Master Gardener Class: Rainbarrels - Are they an old time water collection method?  A fad?  Or a new method to conserve one of our natural resources?   Linn County Master Gardener Will Carew will share the facts of conserving water, show examples of commercial products and how to build your own. Free.

Wednesday, October 24, 7-9 p.m., Iowa City Public Library;Free Screening and Discussion of “The Monsanto Hearings” video: the premiere U.S. screening of the video documenting the The Monsanto Hearings that took place in Iowa City and Carbondale, IL in the spring of 2012.“U.S. screening?,” you may ask? Yes - this work was first screened at Documenta arts festival in Kassel Germany in June of this year, and we finally have this opportunity to share it with participants and interested folk here in Iowa City. If you were unable to attend the event of the Monsanto Hearings this spring, it was a staged mock trial to draw attention to the harms done by the Monsanto Corporation's products and policies in regard to human and environmental health. The trial featured testimonies by a spectrum of people and groups who have experienced the detrimental effects of Monsanto's products, ranging from local farmers' encounters with Monsanto's agricultural products and policies, to a group raising awareness about the collapse of the rural farming system in India, to testimony by a Vietnam vet on the effects of Agent Orange on his life and health.

Thurs., October 25, 10:00-10:45 a.m. Toddler Toadstools at Morgan Creek Park Arboretum. Toddler Toadstools is a nature program designed to get you outside with your little ones, ages 1-4. Kids will read a story, meet an animal, and do hands-on activities and play with items from nature, Play-doh, water, bubbles, sand and more! Advanced Registration: Pre-register by calling 892-6485 at least 2 days before program. Cost: $2/child.

 Sat., October 27, 1:00 - 4:00p.m. Great Atlatl Pumpkin Hunt at Wickiup Hill. Come and try your hand at using an ancient hunting tool, the spear thrower. Equipment and instruction cheerfully provided. Watch as college teams compete to gain the highest team score.  Advanced Registration: Not required/show up. Cost: Free.

Sat., October 27, 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Tri-State Custom Rodbuilders Workshop at Swiss Valley Nature Center, Peosta. The Tri-State gathering of Rod Builders will take place in the fall at Swiss Valley Nature Center in Peosta. There will be a special guest speaker coming in from New York, Billy Vivona, author of the book Decorative Thread Wraps. Billy will be demonstrating various thread wrapping techniques and some grip building as well.  Lunch will be provided and there will be a lot to learn and share. The address is 13606 Swiss Valley Rd, Peosta, IA 52068.  Advanced Registration: Mark Blabaum, hellsangler@live.com (in order to plan ahead for food). Cost: Workshop is free – goodwill donations accepted for lunch.

Sat.,Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Trick or Treat for the Animals. Help carve some creative pumpkins and then fill them with tasty and nutritious treats for our resident skunks, raccoons, buffalo, fox, bear, ducks and rabbits in the Fontana Park Wildlife Display.  Creating these special treats provides enrichment for our animals as they experience different foods and have to work out the challenge of getting to the treats.  After assembling the pumpkins, each of our animals will be fed their own pumpkin and participants are able to watch the feast.  Those interested in helping prepare these offerings and feeding our critters should meet outside the nature center (please dress for the weather) at 9 am on Saturday, October 27.  There is no fee for this program, but pre-registration is required, call 319-636-2617 or fontanapark@iowatelecom.net  We welcome donations of pumpkins, windfall apples and pears, ear corn, berries or grapes, carrots, lettuce and eggs (in the shell).