At this planting event, volunteers will restore the prairie with native pollinator shrubs and release milkweed seeds into a recently burned area through a “podcast!”

Volunteers collected the pods during our immensely successful Million Milkweed Seed Initiative. Many of the seeds have been propagated and will be planted this season. But the pods still have plenty of seeds in the fluff, perfect for casting in fertile areas. See this initiative featured on Grow with KARE 11.

Light snacks and lunch will be provided!
All ages welcome, children must be supervised.

Partners and Funders: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Monarch Butterfly Conservation Fund, Ramsey County Correctional Facility, Bailey Nurseries, and MN DNR

Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) staff and volunteers for a lovely spring morning removing garlic mustard from the recently protected William H. Houlton Conservation Area (a.k.a. Houlton Farm) on Saturday, May 5, from 9-11am.

FMR staff and ecologists will provide a brief introduction to the site and an overview on how to identify and pull the invasive plants we'll be targeting. By removing these species we will be making way for important native plants that have been crowded out by these aggressive invaders.

All are welcome, and as always, all training, gloves, and necessary tools will be provided. However, registration is required and capacity is limited. To learn more, including how to register for this event, visit https://fmr.org/events/2018/05/05/help-remove-invasive-species-recently-protected-houlton-farm.

Take a morning stroll through Riverside Park while enjoying a birding tour lead by Karen Schik, Friends of the Mississippi River’s senior ecologist. Riverside Park is a nature study area intended to be left in a natural state providing much-needed habitat and resources for a variety of species. We hope to spot a number of migratory birds, including warblers, as they pass through the Mississippi River flyway during their spring migration.

Birders of all levels are welcome! We will provide a few pairs of binoculars to share but if you have your own please bring them. Space is limited and registration required. To learn more and register, visit http://fmr.org/events/2018/05/19/riverside-park-bird-hike.

Join Great River Greening and The Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America in this restoration event along the bank of the Minnesota River. Volunteers will plant and seed native forbs and grasses the natural habitat for local wildlife in a six-acre area nearby The Minnesota Valley State Trail. Surrounding landscape includes a diverse wetland and floodplain connected to the Minnesota River National Wildlife Refuge.

Light snacks and lunch will be provided!
All ages welcome, children must be supervised.

Partners & Funders: Izaak Walton League and Outdoor Heritage Fund

Native wildflowers, ferns and grasses will be for sale from multiple vendors. This is a farmers market style event and each vendor operates their own market stall and is paid separately. Cash or checks only, open rain or shine. Open to everyone (Burnsville residents and non-Burnsville residents).

What: Support the vitality of the East Side and volunteer to be part of our hoop house raising! This spring we are proud to be installing the first ever hoop house at Urban Roots. The plastic-covered high tunnel, much like a greenhouse, will extend our growing season significantly in both the spring and the fall, allowing us to grow even more delicious food for our community. Come be a part of of Urban Roots history!

Where: Rivoli Bluffs, our newest, largest, and most scenic garden, located on the corner of E Minnehaha Ave. and N. Rivoli St. behind a new housing development. You can get there by taking Payne Ave. North from E. 7th St. and then taking a left (or heading West) on Minnehaha. The plot is located where Minnehaha dead-ends. Park on the street here and look for the Urban Roots van. We will meet there, gather tools, and then walk down to the plot together.

What to Bring: Dress for the weather. Layers are best, as you often start out cold and then get hot while working. Be ready to get dirty! Most importantly, wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy. Bring a water bottle. We will provide gloves and do have some basic raincoats if the weather calls for it.

*Be sure to check our website for last minute weather updates- the high tunnel can only be completed if it's not too windy!

Email jjandro@urbanrootsmn.org to RSVP.

Kick off your summer by trying a variety of outdoor activities all in one place! And its all for FREE

Urban Roots is teaming up with Saint Paul Natural Resources,
the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and many other organizations to bring you:

Archery
Birding
Buckthorn Art
Canoeing
Climbing wall
Fishing
Geocaching
Lasershot range
Live animals
Tree Climbing
And more!

Bring your friends or family, tell your neighbors. Let's celebrate the new season together!

Bring your old, damaged, and unwanted clothing, sheets and other textiles! Students from Whittier's own Learning In Style School will be on hand to mend your damaged textiles on spot. Donated items will go to Learning in Style's Clothes Closet, which is a free store for community members in need of clothing and household items. Any other items will be taken to Hennepin County Government's drop-off facility to be recycled. Saturday, May 19, 1-4PM, Minneapolis.

Bring your broken household goods and clothing in need of repair. Please also bring any tools and supplies you think might help with the job. Events are first come, first served.

Crosby Farm Regional Park is the largest natural park in Saint Paul with 736 acres of floodplain forests, wooded slopes in oak forest/savanna, and natural wetlands. The park is located in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and also has an extensive trail system which is connected to Fort Snelling State Park and other parks. The event site is an additional extension area, east of Interstate Highway 35E along the Mississippi River corridor. Volunteers will help plant native shrubs and trees seedlings on uneven terrain to enhance the floodplain terrain and natural habitat for wildlife.

Light snacks and lunch will be provided!
All ages welcome, children must be supervised.

Partners & Funders: City of Saint Paul, Capitol Region Watershed District, Outdoor Heritage Fund, and RBC Blue Water Fund

Native Plant Expo and Market offers gardeners one convenient location to shop for Minnesota native plants from 6 local native growers and learn how to use the plants from conservation organizations. The goal of Landscape Revival is to promote the use of native plants by educating about their benefits for wildlife habitat, pollinators, water quality and landscape diversity.

Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) for a spring planting in the oak woodlands bordering the Vermillion River on June 2, from 9-11:30 am. The Vermillion River is a cold prairie stream in the heart of Dakota County and a major tributary of the Mississippi River.



Volunteers will be working in an Aquatic Management Area (AMA), a special form of land protection meant to preserve shoreline property. We'll be planting native shrubs, grasses and wildflowers to improve biodiversity at this important site. Volunteers may also be asked to assist with other restoration tasks as needed.



All are welcome, however, capacity is limited and registration required. All supplies and training will be provided and volunteers will work closely with FMR staff. This event is part of the Vermillion Stewards program, helping Vermillion River Watershed residents learn about the local watershed while working to protect and enhance its unique natural resources.

To learn more and register, visit http://fmr.org/events/2018/06/02/plant-shrubs-grasses-and-wildflowers-vermillion-ama.

Join us for a free, family festival celebrating our clean lakes with fun outdoor activities and hands-on learning about local watershed topics.

On the water: Join the Water Parade at 11 a.m. Throughout the day, enjoy the lake from a canoe, kayak or paddleboat, learn to fish, or participate in a fishing contest.

In the park: The fun continues with live music and dance, water games, climbing walls, a jump castle, native plant giveaway, Passport Odyssey with great prizes, live animals, food vendors and lots more!

This year’s theme is “Follow the Flow,” a nod to Saint Paul’s largest connected chain of lakes. The annual festival is presented by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, which created a water trail map for the Phalen Chain and has restored more than 100 native plant species along large areas of shoreline.

Additional WaterFest sponsors include the cities of Saint Paul, Maplewood, Roseville, Little Canada, Shoreview, White Bear Lake, Landfall and North St. Paul, Capitol Region Watershed District, Ramsey County, Metropolitan Council, Barr Engineering, Minnesota Native Landscapes, Minnesota Water Well Association and other partners.

Doyle-Kennefick is a planned regional park is located in Central Scott County between St. Catherine and Lennon Lakes. Volunteers will help transform the 1860s homestead from farmland into prairie and restore existing savannah by planting native shrubs, releasing milkweed seeds through a “podcast,” and busting buckthorn.

This future park is currently in the acquisition and stewardship phase. Once fully acquired, it will include 1,139 acres of striking landscape including native hardwood forest, oak savanna, prairie, and pristine wetlands scattered across a rolling glacial topography. Planned amenities include a nature center/outdoor discovery center, 13 miles of hiking and nature trails, 8 miles of bike trails, picnic shelter, trail head, and renovation and re-use of farmstead structures.

Light snacks and lunch will be provided!
All ages welcome, children must be supervised.

Partners & Funders: Scott County, Three Rivers Park District, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Scott-Le Sueur MN Waterfowl Association

Native Plant Expo and Market offers gardeners one convenient location to shop for Minnesota native plants from 6 local native growers and learn how to use the plants from conservation organizations. The goal of Landscape Revival is to promote the use of native plants by educating about their benefits for wildlife habitat, pollinators, water quality and landscape diversity.

Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) staff and volunteers for our first public restoration event at Cherokee Regional Park – one of St. Paul's most visited parks. On June 9th, we will begin work needed to restore this historically oak savanna and maple-basswood forested bluff-top park by planting a mix of native prairie plants. These showy flowers and grasses will not only beautify the park but provide much-needed bee, butterfly and bird habitat. And, with deep root systems that act like filters, they'll help reduce the amount of run-off pollution and secure the soil along the bluff.

As always, all are welcome. No previous experience is necessary. However, capacity is limited and registration required. We'll provide any tools and training needed.

To learn more and register, visit http://fmr.org/events/2018/06/09/native-prairie-planting-cherokee-park.