Twin Cities Metro Growers Network

What's a Growers Network?

A Networking Group of the Sustainable Farming Association, the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network aims to connect anyone who grows produce seriously and seeks education, networking and fellowship. Whether you grow for market, personal or community use, or to rediscover indigenous and ethnic roots, if you want to network with like-minded people in the metro, this group is for you.

The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network is a collaboration between SFA and the University of Minnesota Extension.

Info: Lia Spaniolo, University of Minnesota Extension, spaniolo@umn.edu

Learn about Lia here.

Upcoming Events

Bounty and Blooms: Cut Flower Tour

Monday, August 12 | 5:30-7:30 PM

R. Roots Garden - 2131 Penn Ave N Minneapolis, MN 55411

Cut flowers can be a diversifying crop for fruit and vegetable growers, adding an income stream in the form of bouquets and arrangements. And in the case of R. Roots Garden, even edible flowers!

Queen Frye will show us how she has integrated edible flowers into her urban farm through an AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant. She’ll also share what she learned in the process, and her vision going forward.

Featuring:

Free Community small plates crafted by HEAL Mpls
Culinary demonstration by Chef Kenji
University of Minnesota Student Organic
Farm flower bouquet displays and highlights from cut-flower research project*
Original poetry by Queen

Registration: It is free to attend. Registration requested, walkups welcome. Limited seating available, please bring a folding chair if needed.

Six people smile for a selfie, outdoors at R. Roots Garden. They are wearing overalls, hats, and other gardening attire.

Photo courtesy of Queen Frye

* Bounty and Blooms: Integration of Cut Flowers in Urban Vegetable Farms is funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant (2024).

Soil Health and Urban Farm Conservation Practices with NRCS

Monday, September 9 | 4:00-6:00 PM

72 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Join the Twin Cities Metro Growers Network, California Street Farm, and NRCS for a tour and discussion on how urban growers can access funding to implement conservation practices on their farms.

John Brezinka from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Elyssa Eull, farm manager at California Street Farm, will lead attendees on a walk-through of the farm’s existing conservation practices and their eligibility for NRCS cost-share programs. Extension staff will also lead a discussion on managing soil health in high tunnels based on current University of Minnesota research.

California Street Farm produces and sells vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers on a ⅓ acre lot in Northeast Minneapolis. Elyssa utilizes many conservation practices on her farm such as crop rotation, cover crops, no-till, buffer strips and season extension using a high tunnel, which was partially funded through the NRCS’ EQIP program.

Registration: This event is free to attend. Registration requested, walkups welcome.

Other details: Attendees should be prepared for walking on rough terrain. Limited bench seating is available, so bring a folding chair if preferred.

Parking is available in the field west of the farm. Look for the sign!

For accessibility questions or requests, please contact Lia Spaniolo, spaniolo@umn.edu.