Identifying Grasses on a Sustainable Farm

Identifying Grasses and Other Plants on a Sustainable Farm: “Gazing at Graminoids”

Join the Crow River Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association for a day of identifying and learning about plants found on a sustainable and organic farm.

We’ll start the day with a class/workshop focusing on grasses led by Department of MBS Prairie Ecologist, Rhett Johnson, author of the “Field Guide to Minnesota Grasses”. This morning session will be indoors at the South Shore Event Center, and will focus on graminoid (grass) specific anatomy and terminology, some of the major taxa (groups) of grasses that are common in Minnesota, and how to approach learning grasses and identifying them in the field. It will include presentations and looking at actual pressed and fresh collected grasses.

At noon, we’ll have a “working lunch” at the Event Center (included). Provided by Dan & Becky’s Market.  Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.

Next, we’ll drive out to Living Song Farm, where Rhett will be joined by Missy Anderson, plant propagation specialist at the Three Rivers Park District native plant nursery. The two of them will lead a walk through the farm’s permanent pasture, field margins and conservation areas, identifying the vast variety of flora, native and introduced, and even the inevitable invasives. We’ll also take a moment to visit the grassfed beef herd and the newly harvested garlic crop.

Registration is required. No walkups.