Melrose Area Community Education

Zoom Community Ed. Classes will run from 6:30 to 7:30 pm with time after for questions. Participants can request an informational folder and native plant book from the class instructor.

Composting 101 – September 10
Composts and mulches are nature’s way of recycling. It keeps waste out of landfills and fertilizes without chemicals. Learn all about the benefits of composting and how to do it yourself! You will also learn how to use a variety of composts and mulches out there for all your planting and landscaping needs, whether you make them yourself or buy them off the shelf. The pros, the cons, and everything in between . . . especially how to use mulches to tuck your plants in for the long winter ahead. Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class. Fall Garden Care – September 12
You might not be thinking a whole lot about gardening in the fall, but maybe you should! Fall is a great time to prep future garden beds for the spring and ensure your garden is protected for the cold winter months ahead. We will discuss how to make your garden pollinator-friendly and keep it that way until they start emerging in the spring. We’ll also get more familiar with who the pollinators are in our gardens and why they’re so important! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class. Managing Buckthorn – September 16
A beast of a pest, buckthorn is an invasive tree/shrub that is a nightmare to get rid of. It is an aggressive invasive that outcompetes native vegetation and degrades habitat. Learn about the basics of buckthorn biology and strategies for managing it. Techniques ranging from spraying to goat grazing have been tried, and there have been successes! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class. Integrated Pest Management – September 24
Continuing with the theme of managing pests, learn in this class how to win the battle without using harmful chemicals or breaking the bank. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy of controlling insects without relying solely on pesticides. It focuses on long-term prevention through combining techniques such as biological controls, habitat manipulation, selecting the right plants for the right site, and using resistant varieties. IPM can be used to manage all kinds of pests in urban, agricultural, and natural areas. Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class. Stormwater Stewardship – October 1
What happens to rainwater after it runs off my driveway or lawn onto the road? How do storm drains work anyways? In this class, learn about the importance of managing stormwater and how to prevent polluted runoff from entering our lakes and rivers. We will also talk about 
the Adopt-a-Drain program and how you can get involved. Anybody can sign up, and it’s easy to do so! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class.

Importance of Wetlands – October 8
Our mission at the Sauk River Watershed District is to protect and enhance our water resources for today and tomorrow. One of our strategies for accomplishing that is restoring and preserving our watershed’s wetlands. Learn about what a wetland is, how they improve water quality, and how they prevent flooding. We will also feature some of the wetland restoration projects that we have done through our office! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class.

Water Quality Monitoring – October 14
How’s the water out there? If you’re curious to know how we go about answering that question at the Sauk River Watershed District, this class is for you! Our office has been monitoring the water quality in our watershed’s lakes, streams, and of course the Sauk River for over 20 years. Learn about why we monitor in the first place, the basics of how we do it, and what we do with the data we collect. We’ll also give an overview of how the water quality currently stacks up in the watershed. If you want to know more, learn how you can get involved as a volunteer monitor! History of Water Quality in MN – October 22 Minnesota’s lakes and rivers have been here for a long time, but how did they get here? Glaciers, that is! What have we been doing the past 100 or so years to take care of them and our other water resources? Where have we gone wrong in the past? Learn about this and more with our Environmental Monitoring Manager Allison Lightfoot as she discusses the history of how water resources have been managed and how we’ve gotten to where we are today. Participants will receive an informational folder full of great publications, and several door prizes will be given away from local plant suppliers. Dormant Seeding – October 29
Spring is often viewed as the traditional time to plant seeds, but fall has its advantages. When you seed in the fall, the seeding is dormant, and the seed will remain in the soil all winter long to germinate in spring. In many cases, dormant seeding can be more effective than spring and summer seeding. Join us to learn about this method, along with tips and tricks to increase your spring germination and seed success. Participants will receive an informational folder full of great publications, and several door prizes will be given away from local plant suppliers. Smart Salting – November 5
As winter approaches, it’s time to start thinking about ice removal. The most common technique is using road salt, but the overapplication of salt is causing pollution problems in our waterbodies. Chloride is a pollutant that’s almost impossible to remove once it’s in a lake or stream. Road and sidewalk safety is a must, but it doesn’t have to come at the price of good water quality. Join us to learn about the chloride problem and how you can make a difference. There are several alternatives to choose from, so we can all reduce our impact! Participants will receive informational resources to use for their reference after the class.

Educación de la comunidad Zoom. Las clases se desarrollarán de 6:30 a 7:30 pm con tiempo posterior para preguntas. Los participantes pueden solicitar una carpeta informativa y un libro de plantas nativas al instructor de la clase.