Natalie Hoidal

A big thanks to the gardeners at @CLUES_MN who hosted @UMNExt’s @YLAINetwork fellows tonight for an evening of great food, story sharing, cultural exchange, and discussing the joys and challenges of urban ag.

@SoilLorax There’s something about dogs and Brassicas. I had to put a fence around my garden because my dog kept digging up my turnips!

I have #RaisedBeds to keep critters out of my garden. I didn't figure my 10 mo old puppy would jump up there and dig up the broccoli! I thought dogs were Carnivores? #puppygrowingpains

We inoculated our broccoli plots at @SROCHort today. Something tells me we will be more successful at creating disease pressure than we were during last year’s drought. Thanks to Becca with @UMNPlantPath for prepping black rot plates for us!

Are you planning to grow broccoli this summer? Check out our new 2021 variety trial report from trials at 86 farms / gardens and @SROCHort. We screened for disease tolerance, but also documented traits like brown bead and bolting. conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/2…

@MattPrivratsky I’m curious to learn more about your backup heater. We have a heat pump but the propane kicks in around 20 degrees.

3. Estimating nitrogen credits from cover crops video: youtu.be/zumgLm_6HKY

2. Cover crops for gardeners video: youtu.be/nJTJvX-bY38

I’m excited to share some cover crop tools I’ve been working on with the Grossman lab. Cover crops are so important for vegetable farms and gardens, but most resources are for field crop growers. 1: cover crop selection for vegetable growers webpage: extension.umn.edu/cover-crops-an…

@MNFruitLady @Bennett_R_Smith What you two know each other?!?!

The Bump says my baby is the size of a cantaloupe this week. What size cantaloupe? What variety? This tells me nothing.

First local tomatoes of the season from Pillager MN! I’m working with @RSDPMN and three farmers on a deep winter greenhouse project to see how early we can get local tomatoes using deep winter (passive solar) greenhouses. These plants were started in February.

The average American farmer is 58 years old, according to USDA data. Rodrigo Cala, a Mexican immigrant and organic farmer based in Turtle Lake, Wisc., sees that aging workforce as an opportunity for immigrant farmers to enter the field.

We're dropping the beet on March 3rd! Mark your calendars to join us this season.🍈🌶️🥬 >>glveg.net/listen<<

I’m excited to share a new little project I did with artists Martha Sudderth and Eleanor Jensen: two beautifully illustrated cropping calendars to help beginning farmers anticipate and proactively manage common vegetable insect pests! z.umn.edu/cropcalendars