Earth Day (April 22) is around the corner, and if you’re still not sure how you’ll make your mark this year, no problem—we did the digging for you. Check out these 10 garden and landscape classes, sales, and events to celebrate our planet.
Vegetable Garden Basics & Beyond
From seed sowing to weed hoeing, learn everything you need to know to start your very own vegetable garden. The best part? It’s totally free, and even taught by UMN Extension Master Gardeners. Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. @ St. Louis Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey Drive, St. Louis Park, stlouispark.maxgalary.net
Organic Gardening – Grow Your Own Food
This six-session class covers the entire process of organic gardening, with each class dialing in on a different phase. Learn how to prepare your soil, tend and compost, freeze and dry produce, and more. Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. @ Casa Marianna, 4416 Pleasant Ave., Minneapolis, facebook.com
Edible Landscaping Class
Led by Hennepin County Master Gardeners, this presentation will bring actual flavor into your landscape with edible plants. Wednesday, 6:30-8 p.m. @ Eden Prairie Community Education, 8040 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, facebook.com
Create a Rain Garden Workshop
The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District provides step-by-step instruction on how to make your own rain garden—a small depression of colorful native plants that collects rainwater runoff. Thursday, 6:30-8 p.m. @ Spring Lake Township, 20381 Fairlawn Ave., Prior Lake, facebook.com
Community Gardens Clean-Up
When food and drink is provided, family and friends are welcome, and you have a chance to garden and work outside, how could you ever turn it down? Help prepare Minneapolis’ community gardens for the upcoming growing season. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. @ Hope Community Inc., 611 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, facebook.com
Annual Earth Day Celebration
Celebrate Earth Day with a behind-the-scenes tour of historic greenhouses, a horticultural history lesson, and take-home perennials you can plant and add to your space. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. @ Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, brownpapertickets.com
Kids Basket Planting
On the third Saturday of every month, Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery welcomes local youth to share their passion for plants. This week’s featured plant? The pansy. Saturday, noon to 2 p.m. @ Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery, 9293 Pineview Lane N., Maple Grove, lyndegreenhouse.com
Creating a Habitat for Birds & Butterflies in Your Yard
Like humans, birds and butterflies have special preferences for where and how they live. Learn about which plants attract which species, “non-plant” additions to welcome them to your garden, and more from gardener Julie Boden. Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. @ Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr., Chaska, arboretum.umn.edu
Cut Down & Drink Up
Join Bang Brewing and Urban Roots Conservation Crew for a winter prairie clean-up and opportunity to purchase native plants to bring home with you. Not convinced? Volunteers snag a free pint for their time. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. @ Urban Roots, 463 Maria Ave., St. Paul, facebook.com
Landscaping for Biodiversity
This lecture, taught by Lori Tritz of Wild Ones Prairie Edge, teaches how to provide food, resources, and habitat to all walks of life—creating a backyard fit for biodiversity. Saturday, 3-4:30 p.m. @ Tiny Diner, 1024 E. 38th St., Minneapolis, facebook.com
