Stay tuned for details on the 2027 event! In the meantime, here are the archived details from 2026. Thank you to McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua for helping bring this to life!
Scroll to the bottom for all the State Extension Seed Starting Guides & Growing Resources.
9:00am - 1:00pm
McIntosh Memorial Library Lobby
Seed Swap
Seed-starting activities
Repair Clinic with the Fix-it-Folks - in the library program room
Presentations:
9:30-10:15 - Hands-on Enviroscape watershed model demonstration with Skye Bruce and Beth Summers
Valley Stewardship Network
10:30-11:15 - Paradise Gardening with Under-Used Fruits with mIKEAL aND
Driftless Sacred Grove
11:30-12:15: Fermentation demonstration with Laura Poe Mathes
Driftless Folk School
Presentations will take place in the back of the library in the adult area
12:30pm - Garden Tool Library ribbon cutting - at the library table in the lobby space
Dave's Pizza will be parked in front of the library on Rock Avenue serving up slices of hot fresh pizza!
Special thanks to Nelson AgriCenter for support in acquiring the Garden Tool Library collection, and the Viroqua Food COOP for their financial support of this event.
Thank you to our community partners and exhibitors!
Driftless Folk School ---- PRESENTER
Driftless Sacred Grove ---- PRESENTER
Finn Skoga Farm / Solidago Botanicals
Fix-It Folks ---- REPAIR CLINIC - In the Library Program Room
The Prairie Enthusiasts Coulee Region Chapter ---- PRESENTER
Valley Stewardship Network ---- PRESENTER
Bring your seeds to the seed swap on Saturday, March 14th, 9am-1pm.
Seeds we encourage:
-Native & beneficial plants & flowers
-Vegetables & herbs
-Heirloom varieties
-Seeds that are either collected or purchased
….labeled in clean, closeable packaging
When you make your donation, we’ll ask you to fill out a little form outlining the basic details of the seeds you’re donating. We’d love it if you could also share their story, and what makes these seeds special to you.
Include these details with your donation
1) Name and Variety
2) Year Collected
3) Origin:
- from a seed packet?
- from your garden?
- open-pollinated?
-heirloom?
4) Special Instructions
Optional: Share what makes these seeds special to you. We're compiling seed stories and pictures of seed donors to display on the library art wall after the event.
We can’t accept dirty seeds, or seeds from plants that are considered to be a weed, aggressive, or invasive in our area, nor can we accept any seeds collected from plants with diseases or pest problems.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the seed swap - even if you’re not able to bring your own seeds this year; we have plenty to share. Seed packets are organized with similar seeds; it’s an open table so anyone can take as much as they need regardless of what they are able to bring.
If your donated seeds aren’t all taken by the end of the seed swap, feel free to collect them back at 1 pm at the end of the event. Otherwise, any leftover seeds will be used in community programming.
Get a head start! Download, print, and fill out the "SEEDS FROM YOUR NEIGHBOR" form here to share with your donation of seeds.
Though this is a garden related event, we will be running our repair clinic as normal - the items you bring in do not have to be garden-related. However, we will have lots of tools on hand to help sharpen your garden tools, so if you're in the growing-season spirit, dig out your old tools and bring 'em by!
How it works:
~ Bring your broken item to our clinic (up to two items per person)
~ Complete your repair paperwork with our welcome team
~Work with a volunteer to repair your item!
~All repairs are done free of charge, but donations are gladly accepted to help us purchase needed supplies for future clinics.
Repairs offered include (check back for updates as I hear from our volunteers):
~Lamps and other plug-in items
~Clothing/Textiles
~Books
~Wooden items
~Blade and knife sharpening
~Costume jewelry
~Bikes
~and more!
There is no charge for repairs. Donations are accepted, but not required.
We could always use more repair coaches! If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out.
Collecting and Storing Seeds from Your Garden
Utah State University Extension https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/collecting-and-storing-seeds-from-your-garden
Saving Vegetable Seeds
University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds
Heirloom Vegetables
Wisconsin Horticulture (UW–Madison) https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/heirloom-vegetables/
Testing Seed Viability
Extension Dane County (UW–Madison) https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/2023/02/17/12915/
Seed Starting
Wisconsin Horticulture (UW–Madison) https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/seed-starting/
Starting Seeds Indoors
University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/starting-seeds-indoors
Soilless Seed Starting Mixtures
University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/starting-seeds-indoors#soilless-seed-starting-mixtures-1178963
How and When to Start Your Seeds
University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/how-and-when-start-your-seeds
It’s Time to Start Seeds
Extension Dane County (UW–Madison) https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/2024/03/12/its-time-to-start-seeds-check-out-our-seed-starting-workshop/
Containers for Starting Seeds
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/containers-starting-seeds
How to Clean and Disinfect Plant Containers
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/how-clean-and-disinfect-plant-containers
Lighting for Indoor Plants and Starting Seeds
University of Minnesota Extension https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lighting-indoor-plants
Winter Sowing 101
https://cce.cornell.edu/orleans/winter-sowing-101
All the Dirt on Winter Sowing
University of Maryland Extension https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2021-12/All%20the%20Dirt%20on%20Winter%20Sowing%20Power%20Point.pdf
Winter Sowing Seeds
University of Missouri Extension
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/ym105
Join Driftless Seed Supply at The Woolly Bear Taphouse for a seed swap on Saturday March 7th!
