Events-Calendars
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“Seed Saving,” with Chris Jepson and Janna Mintz
| Sunday, October 30, 2022, 10:00am |
Chris Jepson and Janna Mintz will share stories about their experiences in horticulture which range from bee keeping to assisting Haitian sugar cane cutters. Their commitment to native plants, seed saving, and water conserving practices is inspiring to all gardeners, both those just breaking ground for the first time with new beds, as well as old timers who can always benefit from new ideas.
“If you enjoy getting your hands dirty, and find spirituality in worms and fertilizer and composting, you will like this program,” Mintz said.
“Gardening is about feeding ourselves healthy, nutrient-rich foods, and appreciating and connecting with our natural environment,” Jepson added. “The Seed Library’s recent increased collaboration with the Gila Native Plant Society has been rewarding and educational, expanding the library's supply of native seeds. Encouraging local gardeners to add native plants to their gardens plays a role in attracting pollinators to our gardens and helps to keep our local ecosystems healthy.”
Mintz and Jepson are long term, accomplished gardeners with experience in personal/family gardens as well as community and educational gardening in our high desert region.
Chris Jepson worked in Maternal-Child care with new families for 35 years as a nurse, dietitian, and lactation consultant. She retired in November 2020 and began revitalizing the Southwest New Mexico Seed Library in February 2021.
Jepson has been an amateur gardener and educator, encouraging people to grow their own food since her time in the Peace Corps in 1984. In addition to her personal family gardening, her community garden work has ranged from assisting Haitian sugar cane cutters in planting a community garden to obtaining funding for the Beginning Years Program to deliver tub garden kits throughout Grant County.
She enjoys regular local hikes and continues to increase her knowledge of and ability to identify native plants.
Janna Mintz has over thirty years of experience as a kitchen gardener and seed saver in New Mexico’s high deserts. She completed Seed School Teacher Training with the Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance in 2021. As well as being a top-bar beekeeper, Mintz practices regenerative landscaping and no-till edible gardening. She owns Wild Rocket Gardens and offers coaching services to new gardeners and new to the high desert gardeners on how to sow seeds, tend plants, and harvest food crops and seeds.
There are speakers on the patio if you wish to enjoy the service outside.
Location 3845 N Swan Street
Silver City New Mexico 88061