March 2025 Newsletter

Growing Hope: The

BCSL Launch Party is Almost Here!

We’re counting down the days until the BCSL Launch Party on March 8, from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM! While the library is undergoing HVAC renovations, the BCSL will remain open and fully accessible, so join us for a fun-filled afternoon of gardening activities, expert presentations, and exciting prizes.

🌱 What’s Happening at the Launch?

We’re bringing back some favorite activities, including Seed Art with Mother Nature and Seed Tape Making, and introducing new experiences like our Garden-Themed Crossword Puzzle and Garden Passport Activity.

📖 Garden Passport Activity:

Pick up a passport at the entrance and collect stamps as you visit different activities. Once it’s filled, enter it for a chance to win a gift basket (available for both youth and adults), featuring:

• Gift cards for free Juneberry plants from New Leaf Food’s Bountiful Branches sale
• Gift cards for the Master Gardener Plant Sale held in May
• Free passes to the Green Bay Botanical Garden
• Compost from Greener Bay Compost
• And more!

🌿 Expert Presentations

• 12:15 - 12:45 PM | Controlling Invasive Plants

Learn how to identify and manage invasive plant species before they take over your garden.

Presenter: Maria Otto, Conservation Corps Coordinator, City of Green Bay 🔗 More Info

• 1:00 - 1:30 PM | Successful Seed Starting

Gain confidence in starting seeds indoors, from germination testing to optimal growing conditions.

Presenter: Brittany Arnold, Farm to School Program, De Pere Unified School District Nutrition Dept. 🔗 More Info

• 1:45 - 2:15 PM | Keeping Fresh Produce Fresh

Discover the best ways to store produce to extend its shelf life and flavor.

Presenter: Liliana Ramirez Gonzalez, FoodWIse Nutrition Administrator, UW-Madison Extension Brown County 🔗 More Info

• 2:30 - 3:00 PM | Composting Your Food Waste

Learn how to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich compost, with tips for small spaces and year-round composting.

Presenter: John Hermanson, Compost Educator, Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin 🔗 More Info

🌱 New for 2025: Our Curated Seed Selections!

We’re excited to introduce three new additions to our curated seed list:

• One Seed, One Community Selection: Sweet Italian Pepperoncini
• Featured Local Seed: Switchgrass
• Golden Zucchini: A vining variety with smooth golden fruit, similar in flavor to Black Beauty Zucchini

We’re so grateful to our volunteers, community partners, and grant funders who make this event possible. We can’t wait to celebrate with you—see you on March 8! 

Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener

One Seed, One Community

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our 2025 One Seed, One Community program, a highly anticipated program that brings our community together through the joy of gardening! Originally designed by Hillie Salo of Silicon Valley, this program has blossomed into a nationwide movement, uniting neighborhoods with a shared mission: to grow nutritious food and save seeds. Inspired by the "one book, one city" concept, our program encourages the community to cultivate a common seed, fostering unity and collaboration. By growing the same plant, we strengthen community ties and enhance our understanding of sustainable agriculture.

Many home gardens are limited in space, making it challenging to maintain the genetic stock of various seed varieties. By selecting a single seed for multiple gardeners to cultivate and save, we expand the genetic diversity of that variety. This initiative not only enriches our seed library, but also promotes local adaptation and bolsters our food systems.

For 2025, we proudly present  the pepper variety Pepperoncini as our chosen seed! We invite all gardeners to pick up a packet, plant these delightful peppers, and enjoy their sweetness. As you nurture your plants, remember to allow some peppers to go to seed. Once the peppers have turned a vibrant red, harvest the seeds, dry them, and return the seeds to the library to support our growing community collection.

Join us in this exciting venture to cultivate not only seeds but also community spirit and resilience. Together, let's make this year's One Seed, One Community project a resounding success!

Happy Gardening!

🌱The One Seed, One Community Team 🌱

Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener

Correction to last month's

Microgreen Article:

I am reaching out to sincerely apologize for an error in the February newsletter regarding Peter Burke's soil recipe. It has come to my attention that there was a mistake in the measurement for the limestone amount.

The correct measurement should read 1/4 of a tablespoon, not 1/4 cup. This limestone is intended to adjust the pH level of the soil, enhancing its alkalinity, particularly when peat moss is used. If you are using coconut coir, which is neutral, the addition of alkaline may not be as necessary.

I deeply regret any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused. Thank you for your understanding. 

Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener

Open AI

2025 Featured Local Seed:

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

This year, we're excited to highlight Switchgrass as our Featured Local Seed. All distributed seeds have been harvested in Brown County, with a significant portion sourced from the Locktenders Garden along the Fox River in De Pere. This native prairie grass was chosen for its resilience, adaptability, and vital role in supporting soil health, wildlife, and sustainable land management.

As a deep-rooted perennial, Switchgrass helps prevent erosion, improves soil structure, and enhances carbon sequestration. It is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and provides essential habitat and food for pollinators, songbirds, and other beneficial wildlife. Thriving in a variety of conditions, it is an excellent choice for gardeners, conservationists, and those establishing native landscapes.

Switchgrass can be started from seed in early spring. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but adapts well to poor or sandy conditions. Seeds can be directly sown outdoors or started indoors and transplanted after the last frost. As a perennial, it returns each year, forming dense clumps that can grow 3 to 6 feet tall.

Beyond its ecological benefits, Switchgrass is gaining attention as a sustainable fiber source. Its strong, fast-growing stalks can be used for biodegradable packaging, animal bedding, erosion control mats, and even biofuel production. As interest in regenerative agriculture and renewable materials grows, Switchgrass offers an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers and traditional wood pulp.

By featuring Switchgrass this year, we aim to promote its ecological benefits and encourage its use in gardens, prairies, and restoration projects. We invite everyone to plant Switchgrass to support biodiversity and help create more resilient, sustainable green spaces. Together, we can cultivate a landscape that nurtures both people and the environment for generations to come.

Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener

Hydroponics at Home

I read the February newsletter article on growing microgreens with great interest. The article points out a number of ways to grow these cheaply and quickly. But did you know that both microgreens and other greens can be grown hydroponically?

I have found that lettuces, mizuna, micro-tomatoes, and herbs do well grown hydroponically. Greens lend themselves well to cut and come again gardening, meaning that a few leaves can be taken from the outside and the plant will continue to grow. Electricity usage is minimal and many pests are eliminated.

But which system? There are a ton of them on the market, from Aerogardens (AG) to knockoffs in many sizes. AGs are very nice but a bit pricey. I have found the knockoffs much cheaper, especially on sale, and they work very well. I have three units: one AG, one IDOO, and one GardenCube. The AG has its benefits: the controls are located in the base of the unit and most of the mechanical parts are replaceable. The cheaper units require replacement of the entire unit if the lights go out. My IDOO light has lasted 3 years so far and cost me $35. I have replaced the pump, easily done for $10 vs. $15 for an AG. While it is probably cheaper to source greens at the farmer’s market in summer, the stuff I grow has not been subject to food contamination recalls. Cheaper units can pay for themselves fairly quickly. This will also save space in your outdoor garden for other things, and best of all—no rabbits!

Tips: 

• Root vegetables are not suitable for this method! Instead, grow crops like potatoes or radishes in containers.
• A window in front of the unit will help you keep an eye on nutrient levels.
• Don’t try compost tea unless you sterilize it. The contamination will be terrible!
• Consider making your own consumables, such as nutrient solution. Buying can really add up! Look up MasterBlend and make note of the nutrients included in your initial package. Plants need more than NPK in order to thrive.
• Seeds are easily available. The Brown County Seed Library has many varieties of both greens and tomatoes that grow well hydroponically.  Heritage Seed Mart is the cheapest online source I’ve found.
• Root rot is a problem. Peroxide will help, although one does need to keep a sharp eye out.
• Make your own unit! All that is required is a tank, an aquarium pump, an LED light, a small fan, and a deck containing the holes one plants in. Some net baskets and nutrient solution, and you are all set! 

With store produce so incredibly expensive, why not grow as much of your own food as you can? Even apartment and condo dwellers can grow food this way. Why not give it a try?

Submitted by Jayne, Guest Contributor

Calendar of Local Garden Related Events:

February 1 - May 10 ($)

Bountiful Branches Sale

Sale online, pickup at 2600 Larsen Rd

March 5, noon - 1pm (free)

T.I.L.L. Talk: Through the Seasons in the King Shade Garden

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

March 6, 5:30pm - 7:30pm ($)

 Green Thumb Winter 2025: Weed Management

Virtual, UW Extension

March 8, 9:30am - 10:30am (free)

Tree Grafting Workshop

Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St

March 8, noon - 3pm (free)

Seed Library Launch Party

Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St

March 13, 5:30pm - 7:30pm ($)

 Green Thumb Winter 2025: Cover Crops for the Garden

Virtual, UW Extension

March 17, 1:30pm - 2:30pm (free)

Ask Your Gardening Question: LIVE

Virtual, UW Extension

March 19, noon - 1pm (free)

T.I.L.L. Talk: Northeast Wisconsin Pollinator Corridor

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

March 20, 5:30pm - 7:30pm ($)

 Green Thumb Winter 2025: Succession Planting, Companion Planting, and Season Extension

Virtual, UW Extension

March 20, 6pm - 7pm (free)

National Panel Discussion: The Advocacy Power of Public Native Gardens

Virtual, Wild Ones

March 22, 10am - noon (free)

Indoor Gardening/Louise Hansen Miniature Climbing Rose

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

March 26, 10am - 11:30am ($)

What’s New in Gardening for 2025 with Rob Zimmer

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

March 26, 6:30pm – 8:30pm (free)

Growing Healthy Plants – Basics in Plant Disease Management

Virtual, UW Extension

March 27, 5:30pm - 7:30pm ($)

 Green Thumb Winter 2025: Seed Saving, Harvesting, and Storage

Virtual, UW Extension

April 2, noon - 1pm (free)

T.I.L.L. Talk: Beyond the Thorns: Roses of the Garden

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

April 3, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)

Bountiful Branches Guide: A mini-class for planning, planting and maintaining your perennial food plants

Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St

April 5, 1pm - 2pm (free)

How to Plan Your Garden for Seed Saving

Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St

April 8, noon - 1pm (free)

Apple Trees 101: Core Concepts

Virtual, U of Minn

April 12, 9am - 1pm ($)

Intro to Foraging Walk

149 Baird Creek Rd

April 21, 1:30pm - 2:30pm (free)

Ask Your Gardening Question: LIVE

Virtual, UW Extension

April 22, 10am - 11:30am ($)

Earth Day – Wild Connections with Rob Zimmer

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Rd

April 23, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)

Ten Diseases of Native Plants (and Non-Natives, Too)

Virtual, UW Extension

April 29 - May 1

Friends of the Library's BIG Book Sale

Brown County Central Library, 515 Pine St

Celery Bake

Ingredients:

1 Bunch of celery (about 6 cups) cut up into small pieces

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 can (10 ¾ ounces) condensed cream of celery undiluted

1 cup soft breadcrumbs

½ c slivered or sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Mix the celery, cheese, soup, and pepper.
2. Place the celery in a greased 2-qt baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.  Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.  Uncover; sprinkle with the almonds. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until golden brown.  Yield 12 servings.

Submitted by Eileen, N.E.W. Master Gardener

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Although brand names of products are mentioned in this newsletter, NEWMG and BCL do not endorse any particular brands. These mentions reflect individual experiences and should not be interpreted as endorsements or recommendations.