Our 2021 Summer Programming Series:
- Creating Common Ground
- How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
- Kid's & Family Summer Garden Classes
- Poetry in the Gardens
Check below for more upcoming programming and LEC news:
News and Events
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse - Water Conservation
After the wandering zombie hoards destroy our cities, we will no longer be able to simply turn on the tap, where are we going to find our water supply?
Being able to conserve water is a skill we can use today, as well as in a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland.
In this class we will learn about harvesting rainwater and recycling greywater, as well as other water conservation tips.
Class taught by: Lauren and Eric Saline from https://www.wildmadedesign.com/
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Student/Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Register via eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/surviving-the-zombie-apocalypse-water-conservation-tickets-159535084733
Creating Common Ground - Murals and Mushrooms
Join us for our third Common Ground Conversation!
Murals and Mushrooms
At our Common Ground Series, we take two seemingly unrelated topics, learn about them from local community experts, and then work together to find the common ground that connects them.
The series is an attempt to not only highlight the cultural richness that exists within the Greater Mankato Area but also delve into the interconnection between seemingly different unrelated circles and communities.
Murals:
Presented by Dana Sikkila, local muralist and Executive Director of the 410 Project in Mankato.
Mushrooms:
Presented by RIck Esser.
More information and registration link coming soon...
This event is FREE to attend, thanks in part to a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council.
Art in the Garden
Paint your own masterpiece with the Living Earth Community Garden as your landscape. We provide art materials. You bring your creativity.
Ages 3-103.
Children 6 and under must be accompanied by a parent.
If rain, this class will be rescheduled.
Register via eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-in-the-garden-tickets-158510002685
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse - Medicinal Plants
After the wandering zombie hoards ransack the CVS, where are we going to find our medicine?
Learning the basics of medicinal plants is a skill we can use today, as well as in a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland.
Presented by Megan Schnitker, Executive Director of Makhato Revitalization Project, and Owner of Lakota Made.
Class details and registration information coming soon...
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Student/Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Make the Perfect Garden Pickles
There’s nothing better than biting into a crisp dill pickle fresh from the summer garden!
We'll pick cucumbers straight from the garden and make our own pickles. Take home a jar of pickles and a recipe for making more at home.
Adults are welcome to join children at no additional cost.
Kids 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Register via eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/make-the-perfect-garden-pickles-tickets-158518227285
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Poetry in the Gardens - Love Notes to Gaia
Join Living Earth Center Poet Laureate Esther Marcella Hoffmann for our Poetry in the Gardens Series.
Let’s explore poetry and its power to connect us with each other, ourselves, and earth. With Gaia as muse, participate in a prompt grab bag, a circle gab, and a free write, designed to inspire and encourage your own love poems to the planet. Some writing materials will be available but you’re encouraged to bring your own special utensil and notebook.
Esther Marcella Hoffmann is currently the Living Earth Center Poet Laureate. In 2001, she began hosting writing and theatre workshops. Over the decades, she’s worked as writer and performer with numerous artist troupes, including Aktion Club Theatre. She’s hosted and created open stages and shows, including the monthly Spice of Life Variety Show, 2009 to 2017. As a nationally published poet, produced playwright, and basic human being, she encourages you to share your words.
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Student/Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Register through eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-in-the-gardens-love-notes-to-gaia-tickets-158606108139
Magic of Seeds pt.2
This is the second part of the Magic of Seeds Kid's Gardening Class.
Come back to the Garden and see what has grown since May!
Must have attended the May 25th Part 1 class to attend.
Creating Common Ground - Punk Rock and Pollinator Gardens
Join us for our fourth Common Ground Conversation!
Punk Rock and Pollinator Gardens
At our Common Ground Series, we take two seemingly unrelated topics, learn about them from local community experts, and then work together to find the common ground that connects them.
The series is an attempt to not only highlight the cultural richness that exists within the Greater Mankato Area but also delve into the interconnection between seemingly different unrelated circles and communities.
Punk Rock:
Presented by Abby Deleki and Violet Kind, former members of the all-girl punk band CCWD
Pollinator Gardens: Presented by Master Gardener Mary Walker.
More information and registration link coming soon...
This event is FREE to attend, thanks in part to a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council.
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse - Food Preservation
After the wandering zombie hoards ransack Hy-Vee, where are we going to find non-perishable food?
Being able to preserve our own food is a skill we can use today, as well as in a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland.
Presented by Ronda Redman.
Class details and registration information coming soon...
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Student/Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Become a Nature Sleuth!
How can you tell where an animal has been?
Critters often leave clues behind, like a snake skin, piece of fur, or a nest. Explore the kid’s garden and hunt for animal clues. We’ll examine bird’s nests and other nature treasures up close.
There will be time to nibble veggies in the kids garden.
Children 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Register via eventbrite...
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/become-a-nature-sleuth-tickets-158518660581
Classes are offered on our new tiered pay scale:
Benefactor: $45
Sustainer: $22
Base: $15
Reduced: $7
Free: $0
Every non-rainy Friday at 9am Mankato-area veterans come to the Community Gardens for coffee and gardening.
The program is in partnership with Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) and Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence. And is open to any veterans in the area.
MACV Case Manager Mark Bullen said the program has two intended outcomes, "First, we wanted to introduce veterans on a very basic level, the opportunity to learn about planting and the agricultural process. We want to allow veterans the opportunity to see what a different career path might look like...
A dementia-friendly garden was a long-time dream of the Mankato and North Mankato ACT on Alzheimer’s action team (the ACT Team). In 2019, with the partnership of Sandi Lubrant, chairperson for the ACT Team, Laura Peterson, Director for the Living Earth Center, and two faculty from Minnesota State University Mankato, the Garden EngAGEment program, a dementia-friendly garden became a reality. Faculty members Drs. Kristen Abbott-Anderson (School of Nursing), Sheen Chiou (Communication Sciences and Disorders), along with Laura Peterson used guidelines developed by dementia-friendly gardens in the United Kingdom to carefully design the garden layout...
We are a little over a quarter of the way through our 2021 Give to Grow Mankato Campaign!
Living Earth Center has been busier than ever this past month - the Gardens are operating at full capacity, small groups (like the MACV Veterans Garden Group which meets up at the Gardens every Friday at 9am for coffee and gardening) and small classes (5 children attended our Magic of Seeds class last week, up on the Hill, and got to plant seeds in the Kids' Garden) have started meeting in person again!
