Respect Mother Earth and her giving ways or trade away our children's days.
~Neil Young, Mother Earth
Science has failed our world, science has failed our Mother Earth. Spirit moves through all things.
~ System of a Down, Science
We must learn not to disassociate the airy flower from the earthy root, for the flower that is cut off from its root fades, and its seeds are barren, whereas the root, secure in mother earth, can produce flower after flower and bring their fruit to maturity.
 | ||||
Russ: “Paige, last year you and Karen purchased the store, and prior to that you worked here at Mother Earth for 13 years. Have you seen what kind of effect Mother Earth Gardens has had on the neighborhood over the years, has there been an effect?”
Paige: “Oh absolutely! I think so, I really do. I’ve lived here forever and as I walk around the neighborhood I see more and more people beautifying their yards. Often as I walk by folks working in the yard I look around and say “Oh they got that at the store!” Hanging baskets, pottery, and anything that we’ve made I can easily pick out. Then I start to recognize people. I’ll find myself saying “Hey how’s it goin’? How’s that rain garden coming? How’s that plant working out for you?” It’s really a contagious thing, beautifying your outdoor space, because people see their neighbors do it and they think “Well that looks good, I wanna do that in my yard.” I see the whole spectrum, from the folks who have a competitive nature, who think “Well look at their yard, they’re making mine look bad”, to the those folks who just need get in on it because it looks like great fun and they want to enjoy gardening as well…… We have a ton of loyal customers from the neighborhood. I think having a garden store in the neighborhood just makes it that much easier for people to start gardening.”
R: “Are you seeing more people switch over to organic practices?”
P: “People in the neighborhood are using less and less chemicals, all the time. This is so good, and I have to feel like we’re a part of that because we offer them organic options. Probably 10 percent of the time when folks come in and say they need a fungicide or a insecticide, I’ll just say something like, “No you don’t, go home and put some baking soda in water and spray it on your plant, you don’t need to buy anything.” So many times have I turned people away from trying to buy products they don’t need, and that instills confidence that I’m not just trying to sell them crap, at the same time it empowers them to go out and make better choices. They ask me, “Wow, it’s that easy, I have this in the house right now, is it really that easy?” And then they see how easy it is to be environmentally conscious in other ways in their life right now too.”
R: “Sounds like your helping folks make lifestyle changes in this little shop.”
P: “Well yeah we’re here for that, if they’re ready to do it! Some folks aren’t there at all. When we hear folks ask “I just want something pretty in a pot will you make it for me?” We’ll gladly make up the pot for them, but we’ll always make sure to tell them what kind of plant their getting and something about how it is grown even if they say they don’t care. Often times you’ll see them turn around and be more intrigued, but sometimes they still don’t care.”
R: “I heard a rumor that you sell poop here?”
P: “Oh yeah we got all kinds of poop. Poops R us. I love to talk poop. When folks come in and say to me “I need a fertilizer, but I don’t know what I need” I like to ask “What kind of poop do ya want?” I like to talk poop as much as I can especially for just the right person, just to get them all riled up, and comfortable and over it, ‘cause it’s just poop. We’ve got everything from the lowly earthworm poop all the way up to cow poop. We’ve got two kinds of bat poop, seabird poop, chicken poop, horse poop, we sometimes have pig poop, oh and sheep poop.”
R: “That’s quite the collection!”
P: “We’ve got the poop! All forms too, we’ve got poop pots now, bio-degradable planters made from cow poop.”
R: “Wow! Who knew poop is so versatile!”
P: “Everyone Poops!”
R: “You get the coolest organic plants and native plants in your shop! It seems like Mother Earth tends to work with growers who are not only focused on sustainability, but who are also looking to grow the newest, funkiest plants available for our region. So what’s going to be hot in plants for 2008?”
P: “We’ve seen a trend in the last couple of years in annuals and perennials toward very architectural feeling plants. We’re seeing a push toward sedums, grasses, cordyline, and cardoons plants that make a statement with their foliage as opposed to their flowers. Lots of coleus!..... Then Native, Native, Native! We are tripling our native plant selection this year. Almost everything I can get my hands on I’m getting. We’re even gonna move a little bit more into native trees and shrubs…… Then I also see a trend toward nostalgia. I hear “I want carnations", and "I want Hollyhocks, my grandmother grew these.”….. The classic geranium is making a comeback. Marigolds are making a comeback. So a bit of nostalgia, including heirlooms. People are mad for heirlooms. Last year we had 25 varieties of heirloom tomatoes at one time. This year it’s the same thing, I’m gonna get every variety that I can get my hands on.”
R: “Thank you for hosting the recent series of classes! The line-up that you’ve got scheduled looks fantastic and I had a blast teaching your first class of the season! So tell me what inspired the idea to teach classes here?”
P: “Well this is the first year that we’ve been open at this time of year. And we thought “What should we do?” We figured houseplants, decorations, and seed starting stuff only go so far so we said, “let’s have some classes.” .....Now, I spend probably 10 hours a year telling people about corn gluten, I’ve got it down so that in two minutes I can tell somebody everything they’ll need to know about corn gluten, but I thought “Why not have the person who teaches me about corn gluten come and tell people directly?” We are privileged to so much information. It’s great to know Folks like you, Bob Dahm, and the Ladies at Rush Creek that we buy stuff from, you’re all super informed about what you do, so we wanted to share that with our customers. It brings people in here, get’s em motivated, and gets them exited about gardening.”
R: “What is one of your most frequently asked questions?”
P: “How early can I plant my tomatoes?”
R: “And what do you tell people?”
P: “It’s always the same thing, June 1st. If you put a tomato in cold soil you will never have a good tomato plant! If you raise a child that struggles and struggles all through it’s child hood it’s gonna grow up and be just as troubled as it was when it was a child. If you give a tomato the warm nurturing soil that it loves very much it’ll grow and prosper and make fantastic tomatoes.”
R: “Tomatoes as a metaphor for humanity?”
P: “I’m telling you!!”
Yes it’s true Paige is always telling me something or another that I can put to use right away in the garden. Lucky for this town, Paige and the crew at Mother Earth are here and ready to offer sound advice as well as fantastic plants and products! Stop by and visit Mother Earth with your own garden questions, or learn more by clicking here for the Mother Earth Gardens website! Thanks to Paige, Karen, and the rest of the garden gang at the shop!
The Seed Vol. 12 Feb. 20, 2008 A Giving Tree Gardens Newsletter
Photos by Russ Henry ©2008 ,Text by Russ Henry From an interview with Paige Pelini 2-13-08
©2008 by Giving Tree Gardens, all rights reserved.
"We are made from Mother Earth and we go back to Mother Earth."
~Shenandoah Proverb
Minneapolis is a city of green distinction. With attractions such as the Minneapolis Greenway Bike System and the Minneapolis Central Library Green Roof this city seeks to prove on a large scale that it is both environmentally conscious and garden smart. These grand efforts to re-green the city are the products of a populous driven by the ideals of beauty and sustainability. More and more the residents of Minneapolis can be seen in their own yards practicing sustainable gardening habits at home. The folks who live in and around this city are empowered to make healthy landscape decisions due in large part to the network of gardeners and experts who reside here and freely share their wealth of knowledge. Recently I was lucky enough to sit down and chat with just such a garden expert, Paige Pelini. As co-owner of Mother Earth Gardens, one of the city’s finest green thinking resources and what is perhaps the friendliest garden store in the world, Paige is in a unique position to share her garden knowledge with the city she lives in, and to tell us what’s hot in the Minneapolis “green scene”.
Plant Profile:
Cornus alternifolia
Pagoda Dogwood Tree
Paige-"My disclaimer is that I get to change my mind twice a day, everyday. That having been said, Pagoda dogwood continues to be one of my all time favorite trees. I have two in my yard. I love their structure! I love their habbit! I love the leaves with their viens and coloration! I love the blossoms! I love the berries!"
After getting to know the Pagoda Dogwood the reasons for Paige's love affair with this attractive tree become obvious. Growing up to 25 feet tall this small shade tolerant native spreads it's branches horizontally to create a flowing layered effect. The Pagoda is a favorite tree of passing butterflies and birds as the creamy white mid-late spring born blossoms are followed by black berry like fruit. Single or multi-trunked specimens are often placed near sharp architectural elements, as the strong horizontal structure of the Pagoda tree helps to soften rigid lines in the landscape. While the blooms and berries keep our interest in the spring and summer, the Burgundy fall color and beauty of the bare branches after frost make this tree a year round compliment to the landscape.
Don't let the snow weigh you down! Giving Tree Gardens now offers SNOW REMOVAL SERVICE! Let our bio-diesel burning truck clear your driveway right after we hand shovel your walk! Click here to schedule your free consultation!
“Teach your children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.” ~Chief Seattle
Want some help with that?
FREE GARDEN CLASSES!!!
Calling all gardeners! Mother Earth Gardens, the finest garden store in Minneapolis, has decided to make life a little better for all us gardeners! They're hosting FREE GARDEN CLASSES!!! Come listen to and speak with real live gardening experts from around the region!
Join Russ Henry of Giving Tree Gardens as he teaches the second of his two classes on Wednesday March 26th, Ornamental Edible Gardening will be the theme for our evening of garden talk and fun!! Remember these classes happen Every Wednesday Evening at 7:00 through the begining of April, so make sure to click below for the full class schedule.
Bring your garden questions, and ideas!
Ending homelessness, one person at a time
REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!
Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop shop model for delivering services to people experiencing homelessness. Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis are partnering with service providers, businesses, citizens, and faith communities to bring multiple resources to one location where people can come to find the services they need. These services include: housing providers, employment specialists, medical care, mental health care, benefits specialists, eye care, haircuts, transportation assistance, food and clothing. YOU can help! At least 1,000 citizen volunteers are needed at the next event on April 28th, 2008. The Convention Center space will be set up with many tables, rooms, and areas for the various services available and volunteers will assist the guests in connecting with the services they need or request.
Local artists, and suppliers take the spotlight at Mother Earth Gardens
Giving Tree Gardens in the Co-op news!!!!!
Blooming House Plants!!
Just a sampling Mother Earth's
Green Grown Goods
available even in the depth of winter!
Jolly the guard cat rests comfortably in the knowledege that she is the only feline "master gardener" in the state.
Paige stokes the fire to warm the shop as one of her local suppliers chat's her up about next years selections.
Seeds and Soils! It's starting to look a lot like spring in here!!
Just when you thought you'd never find a 3 foot tall iron rooster, Mother Earth saves the day!
Stop in a and meet Karen and Paige, for yourself. Your garden will thank you.
Karen O'Connor, one of Mother Earth's co-owners, hard at work, as per usual.
