Organic ag center to host KNPS program

| September 12, 2019 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — This month’s Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society program is featuring a change of location for the month as September’s presentation will be at Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 North Boyer Road.

The presentations covering a variety of natural resource related topics ranging from wildflower identification, to forest tree management, to mushroom gathering, and much more. Presentations take place from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of the month. No need to pre-register.

This month’s program is Sept. 28.

Kyle Nagy and Jennifer Jensen: Native Plant Research and the Heritage Apples at UI’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center

University of Idaho is starting a research project this year at their Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center on growing native plants in North Idaho. The Center also grows a wide variety of heritage apple varieties that are adapted to our region. We will learn about both of these aspects of UI’s research and extension efforts in Sandpoint, as well as experience the exceptional features of the Center, learn about the botany and history of apples, and sample some of the delicious, in-season apple varieties that are grown there.

Kyle Nagy is the Superintendent and Orchard Operations Manager at the University of Idaho’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center. Nagy has managed the USDA Certified Organic orchard consisting of 68 apple varieties since 2011. He received his bachelor’s degree in environmental horticulture at the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing his Professional Science Master’s degree at the University of Idaho.

Jennifer Jensen is University of Idaho’s Extension Educator for Bonner County focusing on horticulture, small farms and food systems. Jensen received her bachelor’s degree in agriculture from West Virginia University and master’s degree from University of Idaho in plant science. Before coming to Bonner County, she worked at several public gardens as both a gardener and educator, and was the Extension Educator in Boundary County for five years.

For more information about the Native Plant Society or upcoming KNPS programs, go online to nativeplantsociety.org , or visit Sandpoint Parks and Recreation at 1123 Lake St., and online at sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation.