Garden-themed programs bloom at Natural Connections

SANDPOINT  — Sure, it's cold outside.

But, thanks to this weekend's Natural Connections, we can already start dreaming of spring and summer — and get a jump start on our gardens.

The garden-themed program offers a chance to learn how to save seeds, how to source and plant them, and how to make the most of "bitters" — flavor extracts created by infusing barks, flowers, herbs and more. As an added bonus, there will be a demonstration on how to tap maple trees.

Natural Connections will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St.

This month's Connections theme was selected in celebration of National Seed Swap Day, Joyce Jowdy, adult programming coordinator, said.

"Join fellow gardeners in the countdown to spring by participating in our seed swap and grand re-opening of the seed library," Jowdy said. "The seed swap is free and open to everyone. You can bring seeds to exchange or just take seeds. We want to celebrate the community and encourage everyone to share in our passion for gardening and saving seeds."

The first program, set to begin at 10 a.m., will be a presentation by Sara Straate, a seed historian at Seed Savers Exchange. Founded in Missouri in 1975, the exchange would grow into a network of gardeners. Dedicated gardeners from all over the country have shared heirloom seeds, donating seeds to the exchange collection.

The collection, Straate said, has grown steadily and today the exchange houses the country's largest non-governmental seed bank of its kind with roughly 20,000 varieties at the 890-acre Heritage Farm in Iowa.

"They not only safeguard these varieties for generations to come but also encourage gardeners and farmers worldwide to grow, harvest, and share heirloom seeds as well as recount the inspirational stories behind them," Straate said on the East Bonner County Library's website. "They also educate gardeners on gardening and the time-honored and critical practice of seed saving."

At Saturday's presentation, Straate will discuss SSE's program and how everyone can engage in seed preservation.

Following Straate will be Emily LeVine of Red Wheelbarrow Produce, an all-natural vegetable farm in the Selle Valley. LeVine's in-depth class will focus on seed selection, garden planning and effective techniques for starting seeds. She will also discuss how to source the highest-quality seeds, design an effective garden layout and enhance your soil naturally.

The program with LeVine begins at 11 a.m.

Curious about bitters? Jennifer Steinbachs of Syringa Wellness will present on the surprising power of bitters, calling them "nature’s secret weapon for better digestion, balanced energy, and emotional grounding."

The naturopathic practitioner will lead a hands-on workshop that blends practical herbal information with a fun, interactive experience. All materials will be provided.

Steinbachs, who has years of experience, blending science-based information with traditional herbal knowledge, will guide participants through the world of bitters, offering advice, tips and how-tos as well as the role bitters can play in your health, according to information provided by Steinbachs.

If you missed the presentation earlier this week on maple tapping in the Pacific Northwest, you're in luck as David Knudson, owner of Montana MapleWorks in Missoula, brings his extensive knowledge in tapping the various maple species for syrup production. Over the years, Knudson has held numerous workshops, field days and presentations to educate individuals about innovative collection methods and syrup production.

Information: ebonnerlibrary.org

    This weekend's Natural Connections program will feature several presentations on seeds, seed exchanges and more.