Minnesota Grown

AFSA Charter School MN Ag Night
2026-01-15 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | AFSA Highschool, 100 Vadnais Blvd, Vadnais Heights, MN, 55127
Join us for a special night highlighting the MN agriculture industry!
January 15, 2026
4-7 p.m.

Meet with representatives from the MN agriculture industry
CDE/LDE sampler led by AFSA students
Spaghetti dinner – free!

Look who’s joining us:

CFANS
MN Beef Council
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Minnesota Grown
MN Pork Board
MN Turkey Growers

Galentine's Bouquet & Brunch with Rustic Designs Flower Farm 2026
2026-02-07 09:30 - 11:00 | Redhead Creamery, United States
Join Redhead Creamery for a fun-filled Galentine’s Day bouquet and brunch at Redhead Creamery, in collaboration with Rustic Designs Flower Farm! Enjoy a delightful morning with friends as you:

Savor delicious bites from a gourmet cheese and brunch grazing table
Create your own stunning floral bouquet with expert guidance from Rustic Designs Flower Farm

Come for the flowers, stay for the cheese, and raise a glass to friendship! Perfect for celebrating with your closest gal pals. Cheese shop and restaurant will open promptly at 11:00AM for shopping and more celebrating.
Space is limited—reserve your spot today! No actual ticket sent.
This event takes place on Saturday, February 7th from 9:30AM-11:00AM at Redhead Creamery 31535 463rd Ave, Brooten, MN 56316.

Neighborhood Roots Winter Farmers Market
2026-02-07 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Bachman’s Floral, Gift & Garden, 6010 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55419, United States
Join friends, neighbors, farmers, and makers at this cozy indoor farmers market. Stock up on locally grown and raised groceries, discover unique gifts, and warm up with delicious ready-to-eat foods — all while supporting small businesses through the colder months.
Patrons of the Kingfield, Nokomis, and Southwest Farmers Markets will see lots of familiar faces! Neighborhood Roots is the non-profit behind those three outdoor markets as well as this indoor series. Learn more about Neighborhood Roots markets on their website.

Practical Permaculture to Get You Started
2026-03-01 09:30 - 15:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: We’ll start with seeing ourselves as part of nature- our gardens as part of the larger ecosystem, and how we can build simple systems to make lasting changes. We’ll go over the design process, consider soil life, how to work with water, build plant communities and best of all, ways to tend the permaculture garden so it is a truly sustainable way of growing with nature. We’ll dedicate time to start creating your own permaculture garden design.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
What to Bring: Come with a loose sketch of the property/area that you want to design. Bring a notebook or sketch paper, pencil with eraser, pen, and colored pencils if you have them.
Instructor Bios:
Michelle Bruhn homesteads in suburban Minnesota. She’s a local food advocate, Master Gardener Volunteer, writer, garden educator, and farmers’ market manager. As the founder of ForksInTheDirt.com, an information hub for garden and farm-to-table living, her passion is helping folks “dig” their food. When not in the garden, Michelle enjoys spending time with her backyard flock, family, and friends while immersing herself in nature (usually with a foraging basket in tow).
Elaina Moss is a master gardener that lives in Minneapolis on a 1/6 of an acre. She focuses on regenerative permaculture gardening methods and growing a wide variety of fruit trees (18), berry bushes (44), edible vines (7), along with other perennial edible and medicinal plants, even in her lawn.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Learn to Prune Apple Trees
2026-03-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Skilled pruning increases the quality of your harvest and provides for better access to air, wind and sun for your apple trees.
Now is the time to learn what you need to know: the tools needed for pruning, the principles guiding best practices in pruning, best timing for pruning and spring thinning, and year by year pruning techniques from the very young seedling or the overgrown aged tree that needs your help.
Learn the art and science of apple tree pruning from experienced grower, Jim Birkholz of Pleasant Valley Orchard. The class will provide an overview of fruit tree growing habits and the reasons why we prune, along with an introduction to pruning techniques and principles, followed by an actual demonstration of pruning on the WEI Amador Hill Orchard.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
What to Bring: Be prepared to be in the out-of-doors, coats, gloves, boots for high snow, hats and warm layers of clothing. Bring your own tools, if you have them, and take care of them in the class. Please bring a lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.
Instructor Bio: Jim Birkholz, together with his wife Judy Erickson, own and operate Pleasant Valley Orchard near Shafer in southeast Chisago County. The family-owned farm consists of 15 acres of apples with the first plantings being made in 1991. They also grow strawberries, pumpkins and squash. Jim has been a member of statewide grower boards over the years in order to support and learn from successful local fruit and vegetable growers and to support higher education and businesses crucial to specialty crop agriculture. Earlier in his career Jim worked in soil and water conservation and remains involved in the field serving as chairman of the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District.
WEI has an annual scholarship fund to support cost-accessible programming. Please see scholarship application instructions in the class registration form.

Women and Chainsaws
2026-03-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: If you don’t already love your chainsaw, you will after this class. We will focus on chainsaw safety and operation, and briefly touch on maintenance. We will discuss finding and caring for PPE (personal protective equipment) that fits you properly, creating and maintaining a safe work environment, and safe chainsaw operation. We will bring several different chainsaws to show differences in chain type, bar length, handle placement, etc.
In the afternoon we will work on how to safely operate a chainsaw while practicing basic chainsaw skills. We will have a limited amount of PPE for you to use if you do not have your own. During this class no one will be allowed to operate a chainsaw, whether it is your own or one of ours, unless you are wearing adequate PPE: chaps or chainsaw pants; and a helmet with eye, ear and face protection.
What to Bring: Your chainsaw, if you have one; Your PPE (head, ear, and eye protection; boots and work gloves); the clothing you need to be warm and comfortable in the classroom and outside; Your lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.
This class is designed for people who identify as women or non-binary.
Instructor Bios:
Louise Levy holds a master’s degree in silviculture and after a decade of experience in rural forestry, made a small but seismic lateral shift into the world of urban forestry and arboriculture. In 2011 she founded Levy Tree Care, and since tree care and civic engagement go hand in hand for her, she also spends time on community presentations, donations of tree care, tree preservation advocacy, sponsorship of arts programs, and collegial professional development.
Jenna Strait is a certified B level sawyer with the U.S. Forest Service in both gas-powered and crosscut saws and works as a utility line clearance arborist. Jenna’s background also includes work as an Americorps field coordinator, where she conducted chainsaw safety, operation and maintenance classes for service volunteers in the arrowhead region of Minnesota.
Holly Rose is a certified B level feller with the U.S. Forest Service and an assistant chainsaw safety trainer for Forest Safety Instruction, where she helps guide people in a variety of industries across the Midwest on how to use a chainsaw safely, correctly, and confidently. Her background also includes working with the National Park Service and contracting with the Forest Industry Safety and Training Association and the Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.

Create Your Own Orchard: Make Fruit Trees by Grafting
2026-03-21 09:30 - 14:00, 2026-04-11 09:30 - 14:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Have you ever wanted to grow fruit trees in your own backyard and harvest home grown fruits or start a small orchard? This class will give you the skills and hands-on experience to learn how to hand make your own fruit trees, repair damaged trees, and add on different fruits to existing trees to save space.
Grafting is the ancient art of how to attach a specific desired cultivar of fruit onto a rootstock to make a customized fruit tree. Students will learn the reasons for grafting, the skills and materials needed to dormant graft, bud graft, and summer graft, and how to nurture trees to maturity. Basic biology of the tree, and why this works will also be covered. Resources also will be given that will help you find desired rootstock and scion wood for the specialty tree of your choice. If you have a favorite tree you want to replicate, like a neighbor’s or grandparent’s apple tree, contact Dan after you register and he’ll provide instructions for preparing tissue from that tree to graft.
This class is about two hours of instruction, an hour break for lunch, and then hands-on practice afterwards. Each student will take home two apple trees that they themselves have made.
What to Bring: Bring a utility knife with a new blade that has been washed in soapy water to remove any factory oil, pruning shears that can cut a quarter-inch stem, thin multipurpose garden gloves, a garbage bag, a sharpie, a 5-gallon bucket to bring your trees home in, a rag for wiping your hands and something to take notes on. Please bring a lunch and preferred drink – and snacks if you need them.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
We are offering this class again on Saturday, April 11.
Instructor Bio: Dan Sheild is the co- owner of Stone Creek Farm, an orchard that specializes in stone fruits, including plums, apricots, and peaches. With organic practices, Dan developed a system that would allow sweet and juicy peaches to grow and fruit consistently, as well as manage his orchard and farm for commercial fruit sales and research. Dan is a former board member of the Organic Fruit Growers Association, has memberships in Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Fruit and Vegetables Growers association, and NAFEX, North American fruit explorers. Dan has grafted most of the 1200 trees on his property.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Free Bingo
2026-04-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Willow Pond Wilnery, 1910 260th St W, Farmington, MN, 55024, United States
Free Bingo At Willow Pond Winery

Home Cannabis Cultivation
2026-04-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Growing your own cannabis at home is a rewarding and fascinating hobby. Whether you’re aiming for a high-THC yield or just want to grow one of the most interesting plants out there (that grows like a weed), with some basic gardening know-how, you can nurture plants from seed to flower and harvest your own high-quality cannabis.
This class introduces the fundamentals of cultivating cannabis responsibly and successfully on a small scale (which is legal in Minnesota for adults 21+). Participants will learn how to design a home grow that fits their space, schedule, and experience level. We’ll cover plant life cycles, lighting and soil basics, watering and feeding, and how to identify and manage common issues and pests. By the end of the class, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to begin your own grow with care and curiosity.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: Charlie Zieke (they/them) is a farmer, artist, and mulching enthusiast with a decade of non-profit and educational experience. Along with their partner Relle, they operate Magic Acre Farm, a permaculture land project and CSA that raises more-than-organic veggies, flowers, and chicken eggs. Charlie runs Zieke Design, a small creative studio that supports farmers, artists, and organizations of all sizes with visual storytelling. Their past work has included supporting land access for immigrant & queer farmers as the Communications Director at Sharing Our Roots Farm, wrangling goats and communications at Great River Montessori School and implementing restoration plans for a community permaculture orchard at Frogtown Farm.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

A Year in the Life of Honeybees: 7-Month Training Course for Beginning Beekeepers
2026-04-19 12:30 - 15:30 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Become a beekeeper in this seven-session hands-on class that meets on the third Sunday of the month while following the life of honeybees. The first class is Sunday, April 19 and continues through October 18 unless otherwise noted.
This experiential class will cover the historic folklore, agricultural politics and current sciences of sustainable beekeeping in northern climates. The seven-session class is designed for beginning beekeepers and will provide hands-on experience at each turning point of the season. Each session will focus on the changing tasks that are involved with keeping bees and will include one-on-one time with the hives, guided by Hailey Kisch from Big Sky Acres.
The class meets the educational requirements for the WEI Beekeeping Certificate. To earn a WEI Certificate, registrants must attend at least 6 of 7 classes. The class schedule is subject to change and dates will be rescheduled if needed due to weather or other circumstances.
Class schedule:
Beekeeping at WEI is committed to the health of the bees, organic care practices as much as possible and an understanding of bees on the farm as integral to the farm’s ecosystem.

April 19: Overview of beginning organic beekeeping. Where to buy the necessary equipment, supplies and bees; how to build a hive, setting up hives
May 17: Hive day inspections: anti-swarming techniques, reversal of hive boxes in overwintered colonies, planting fall flowers for pollinators
June 21: Hive day inspections: honey assessment, prepping for nectar flow
July 19: Hive day inspections: Varroa mite counts and hive diseases
August 16: All things honey extracting
September 20: Prepping the hives in fall to prepare them to survive over winter
October 18: All things beeswax, winterizing hives and saying goodbye

All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
What to bring: Bee suit, veil, gloves, hive tool, outdoor wear. Snacks and beverages as needed. Instructor and WEI have several veils to lend. Please let us know if you need one.
Instructor Bio: Hailey Kisch dedicated to sustainability and food sovereignty, with a B.S. in Soil and Water Science and an M.S. in Range Science from Montana State University. She applies this expertise on her farm outside Shafer, where she and her husband, Trevor, raise their four children while focusing on sustainable farming practices. Starting with a small chicken coop and garden, their farm now produces high-quality produce and pasture-raised animals, all while preserving the land’s health for future generations. Education is key, as Hailey and Trevor teach their children about soil health and resource preservation.
Beekeeping is a central part of Hailey’s work. Over the past four years, she’s apprenticed with Mike at Bone Lake Meadows Apiary, deepening her knowledge of pollination and hive management. Hailey manages the hives at WEI and also oversees hives on farms in the Chisago County area. In partnership with Mike, she helps manage bees for an apitherapy center in Stillwater, using bees to assist with healing for various conditions. Hailey’s passion for beekeeping integrates pollinators into her farm, supporting biodiversity and reinforcing the important connection between humans and nature. Through this holistic approach, Hailey nurtures the land and educates future generations on sustainable practices.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Critical Ecofeminism Book Retreat: A Guided Weekend of Discussion and Community
2026-04-24 18:00 - 2026-04-26 14:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Join us for a weekend of lively discussion and grounded connection, using Greta Gaard’s Critical Ecofeminism as our starting point. The retreat includes the book, plus Friday and Saturday night accommodations at WEI. This gathering will be a relaxing, invigorating time to re-set, reconnect, and envision and engage with a positive path toward an equitable, sustainable future.
Please enroll in this class at least three weeks in advance of start date to receive the book.
Critical Ecofeminism (2017) asserts that ecofeminism is a “practical movement for social change” and an intersectional framework that recognizes that sexism, racism, and environmental degradation all stem from a single Western “logic of domination.” Gaard argues that it is impossible to address women’s oppression without simultaneously addressing environmental destruction and racism, as they are mutually reinforcing systems. Incorporating queer ecologies and interspecies climate justice, Critical Ecofeminism presents a powerful framework and next steps toward global sustainability.
Led by WEI Director and Professor Emerita Jacquelyn Zita, this retreat is a unique opportunity to explore Critical Ecofeminism together, through discussion sessions, shared meals, and outdoor activities that connect us to the farm and natural ecosystems. Participants will be assigned selected chapters to read in advance of the gathering.
Retreat Structure (finalized closer to the retreat):

Friday evening: potluck and opening circle
Saturday morning: breakfast and discussion session positioning the book/context/defining ecofeminism; farm walk.
Saturday lunch included (farm produce/bread/soup)
Saturday afternoon: Continued exploration of select chapters and passages of the book
Saturday evening: Campfire and connection
Sunday morning: Discussion sessions – closing circle
Sunday lunch included (farm produce/bread/soup)

All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: A prominent Gender/Women’s Studies scholar and educator, Jacquelyn Zita is the former Chair of the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota and former national President of the Women’s Studies Association. She serves as WEI’s volunteer Director of Operations and Education, and Farm Director for WEI’s Amador Hill Farm. Dr. Zita holds a BS in Biology and Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Washington University, St. Louis. She brings 20 years of experience running WEI’s education/demonstration CSA farm and extensive knowledge of organic farming, biology of farming, women’s health issues, and gender, environmental and social justice studies. She also directs WEI’s North Circle and Fair Table (formerly Veggie Rx) programs.

Edible Landscaping and Gardening with Nature
2026-04-25 13:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: From raised-bed kitchen gardens to gorgeously designed sustainable yards that feed the people, pollinators, and the planet, we will be looking at how to make the most of urban/suburban spaces in the short growing season of the Upper Midwest. Using nature’s patterns, rhythms and cycles as our guide, you will learn sustainable gardening techniques such as successional planting, intensive planting, companion planting, and intentional design. You will leave with a number of ways to transform your own garden space to a beautiful bountiful edible landscape. Instructor Dina has a great passion and varied experiences growing gardens and educating folks about sustainable gardening in the Twin Cities. Join her to grow your gardening skills this year!
Please Bring: A notebook and pen.
Instructor Bio: Dina Kountoupes is owner of Harvest Moon Edible Landscapes, a local woman-owned business that helps people sustainably grow food and connect to their land. She has designed, installed, and maintained gardens and run educational programs with individuals, schools, and community organizations in the Twin Cities for the past 15 years.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Resilient Remedies: Creating a Natural-Herbal First Aid Kit and Home Apothecary
2026-05-02 09:30 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: In a world where access to healthcare and supplies can change quickly, knowing how to care for yourself, family, or close circle with natural, botanical medicine is a powerful form of resilience. This immersive workshop will offer ways to create an herbal first aid kit and plan what a self-reliant home herb apothecary may look like for everyday ailments and uncertain times.
Through guided instruction, hands-on preparation, and practical discussion, you’ll learn how to choose versatile natural and botanical remedies to have at hand. We’ll also cover planning an apothecary for your home and personal needs. Explore accessible herbs, pantry supplies, and simple formulations for common ailments in a thoughtful manner with a well-versed herbal clinician.
You’ll walk away with:

2-3 natural botanical remedies you’ll make in class to begin stocking your kit
Several teas to begin stocking your home herb apothecary
Skills to continue building your herbal supplies with confidence

This workshop welcomes beginners and those who have more extensive herbalism experience.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Please Bring: A tote or kit bag from home for your botanical remedies. A $15 materials fee (cash) paid directly to the instructor.
Instructor Bio: Gigi Stafne MH, ND is an enthusiastic educator, activist, and writer in the health justice and natural medicine fields. She is faculty at the Women’s Environmental Institute, director of the Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine, and former executive director of Herbalists Without Borders International. Earth ethics, ecology, sustainability, and environmental health are woven into every level of her organizing and teaching for nearly four decades.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Grow Your Own Mushrooms Outdoors
2026-05-16 09:30 - 15:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: In this hands-on workshop, Stig will show you how to grow mushrooms outdoors using low tech methods like logs, patches, and bags. Thinking about expanding your food cultivation skills? Or are you simply curious about mushrooms? Either way, this workshop is for you! You’ll get the chance to make your own shiitake or oyster mushroom log to take home, while learning from local farmer-cultivators about how to select, cultivate, and harvest mushrooms outdoors. Plus, we’ll have delicious mushroom-themed snacks and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the day.
This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow mushroom enthusiasts and dive into a fun, interactive experience.
All are welcome. WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: Stig Mycelia is a self taught cultivator and lifelong student of fungi. It is his mission in life to cultivate a relationship with any and every fungi he comes across while maintaining a low tech approach that is hands on and personal to develop accessible approaches to working with otherwise “difficult” fungi. He is an educator and advocate for the fungi often overlooked, having direct experience in the cultivation of several distinct species across multiple genera and many localities and lineages from across the globe. His approach and philosophy of life is one rooted in nature and the natural world, of connection and relationships, and to the pursuit of happiness.
Assisting Instructor Bio: From Tony Cineus: “My journey into the world of mushrooms began at a young age, deeply rooted in the rich cultural traditions of my Haitian and Mexican heritage. From childhood, mushrooms were not just a culinary ingredient but an integral part of our lives.” After working with a mentor who guided Tony in mushroom cultivation and instilled in them the importance of sustainable practices, Tony vowed to share expertise in mushrooms and empower others to cultivate their own mushrooms and foster a community of self-sufficiency and holistic living.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Foraging with Hope
2026-05-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: You don’t want to miss this foraging class with Hope Flanagan from the Turtle Clan. Hope is an elder who has learned about plants and foraging from her family lineage, Native elders and teachers, and the plants themselves. She will lead us through a seasonal foraging excursion, where we will learn from Hope and the plants about edible and medicinal plants and the cultural meaning they carry.
Food is growing everywhere! Gain a new perspective on your surroundings as you learn about the many wild plants that can be used for nourishment and food. Learn to identify edible plants and creative ideas for how to use them. Bring your curiosity and observation skills for this hands-on afternoon adventure.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
What to Bring: Suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes for strolling off and on trail, on uneven terrain. Water bottle and snacks.
Instructor Bio: Hope Flanagan is Noodinesiikwe (Little Wind Woman) from the Turtle Clan. She comes from the people of Tonawanda, Seneca Reservation. Hope began picking plants as a small girl with her mother and sister. She remembers asking about okandamoo (yellow waterlily root) and bagwaji-okaadaakoons (Queen Anne’s Lace, or wild carrot) when she was 2 or 3.
Hope has a teacher certification from the University of Minnesota in social studies and American Indian eminence credentials. She also has teacher certification in English as a second language, early childhood education, and elementary education. She has always heard that each plant has its own gift to the people—food, medicine, or utility. The plants know their purpose; people have to learn and listen.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Herbal Street Medic Training
2026-06-06 13:00 - 17:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Herbal Street Medics can play an important role in community resilience by providing grounded care, nervous system support, and plant-based first aid in times of stress, conflict, and uncertainty.
Learn the essentials of herbal first aid response for community care, mutual aid spaces, and certain crisis situations. This hands-on training will share practical herbal first aid skills for supporting others during gatherings, protests, community events, even some natural disasters. You’ll learn about field-ready herbal preparations, safety considerations, and how to integrate natural remedies to offer grounded, compassionate care on the street or in the field. Some of the issues addressed in the training included support for stress and shock, minor wounds, muscle strain, eye irritants, dehydration and emotional overwhelm. We will focus on accessible, low-cost products that travel well and are easy to offer in mobile or makeshift settings.
This workshop is rooted in harm reduction, community care, and empowered grassroots response. An emphasis is working alongside street medics, first responders, and mutual aid teams. Roleplay and somatic regulation tools will be shared. There will be support and guidance in knowing when to refer for more intensive medical care. Safety, consent, legal considerations, and the scope of service will be other general issues covered.
Note: There will not be a hands-on ‘makers’ section in this training/workshop. Instead I will be bringing an array of herbal medic kits and supplies for people to learn about.
Please Bring: Notebook and pen.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: Gigi Stafne MH, ND is an enthusiastic educator, activist, and writer in the health justice and natural medicine fields. She is faculty at the Women’s Environmental Institute, director of the Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine, and former executive director of Herbalists Without Borders International. Earth ethics, ecology, sustainability, and environmental health are woven into every level of her organizing and teaching for nearly four decades.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

The Art and Craft of Goat Milk Soap Making
2026-06-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Spend a hands-on, good-smelling session learning the craft (and chemistry) of goat milk soap. We’ll demystify the science—saponification, superfatting, and why different oils (olive, coconut, shea, castor) change hardness, lather, and conditioning—then walk through a live demo of making a silky, skin-loving goat milk batch from scratch. You will leave with a bar of custom soap and the knowledge you need to start making your own soap at home. Safety gear is provided, but lye can stain clothing. Please dress appropriately.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: Mandi Sawyer is the soap maker for Wild Haven Farm’s line of body and shave soaps. She loves the science and creativity of soap making. When she is not making soap, she works on her Certified Organic farm, treats patients using Traditional Chinese Medicine, and works towards training the next generation of TCM herbalists.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Resilience and Nourishment in Challenging Times
2026-07-11 09:30 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Times of uncertainty call for deeper nourishment of body, mind, and spirit. This workshop offers a restorative, empowering, and nature-based approach to building resilience by weaving together herbalism, nourishing foods, nervous system care, and grounding practices that sustain us through challenge and change.
Participants will learn about herbs to strengthen the body, support well-being, and cultivate inner steadiness. We’ll explore adaptogens, tonics, and calming herbs, alongside simple practices that build a sense of groundedness and vitality over time. For lunch, the class will share a farm-to-table meal that incorporates certified organic produce from WEI’s Amador Hill Farm and other local growers committed to producing nourishing, nutrient-dense foods using sustainable and environmentally regenerative farming practices.
Through experiential learning, reflective practices, nature immersion, and a hands-on herb handcrafting project, you’ll gain tools you can use immediately to restore inner and outer balance, fostering resilience in your daily life. You’ll also be creating a personal “Resilience and Nourishment Plan” for times of stress.
This workshop welcomes all, whether you are navigating personal transition, feeling the weight of collective stress, caregiving, or simply seeking a more rooted and nourished way of living.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Please Bring: Notebook and pen. $10 materials fee (cash) paid directly to the instructor.
Instructor Bio: Gigi Stafne MH, ND is an enthusiastic educator, activist, and writer in the health justice and natural medicine fields. She is faculty at the Women’s Environmental Institute, director of the Green Wisdom School of Natural and Botanical Medicine, and former executive director of Herbalists Without Borders International. Earth ethics, ecology, sustainability, and environmental health are woven into every level of her organizing and teaching for nearly four decades.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Flower Valley Orchards Flower Farm | Opening Day
2026-07-11 12:00 - 17:00 | Flower Valley Orchards Flower Farm, 29732 Orchard Rd, Red Wing, Minnesota, 55066, United States
2026 Season Opening Day: Saturday, July 11th!

Introduction to Growing Peaches and other Stone Fruit in Minnesota
2026-08-08 09:30 - 15:30 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Whether on a scale as large as a high tunnel or in a shelter for one tree, this class explains protection system principles in which you can successfully grow peaches, apricots, plums and nectarines organically in a commercially viable way.
The student will learn what cultivars of fruit to look for, why grafting your own trees makes the system work better, soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, pollination, insect and weed control, tree training and pruning, harvesting and preparing the winter protection system that allows all this to happen. One to two hours of instructional time will start at WEI and move to Stone Creek Farm, just 22 minutes away in Shafer MN, where you will tour a working example of the system in action, with more than 100 peach and apricot trees.
The trees in the system have fruited after a winter with multiple outside temperatures in the 20s and 30s below and as low as -35°f, so far, the research is showing that the system could work with outside temperatures as low as -42 to -45°.
Crops permitting, students may be able to purchase ripe peaches after class.
What to Bring:

Pen, paper, notebook and or laptop and a camera or cell phone to take pictures at the farm
Bring a lunch to eat at Stone Creek Farm during the tour; also bring water or other beverage and any snacks you might want
Outdoor wear including sunhat, sunscreen, and layers to protect from the sun or other weather

How should students prepare for class? Start a web search of cold hurry stone fruits including peach, nectarine, apricots and plums to help decide which of them you might want to draw in your system.
All are welcome. WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: Dan Sheild is a farmer in Shafer Minnesota who asked himself question in 2009, “Why can’t we grow peaches in Minnesota?” His curiosity and research led him to start asking other people why it can’t be done, the answers to that question provoked positive solutions, so together with Dan‘s background in construction, a system materialized and an unbroken run of ten peach-filled summers starting in 2015. The protection system Dan created has endured hostile conditions and temperatures as low as -35° and still produced crops of tasty organic golden orbs of goodness. Having started without any horticultural education, he sought every advantage to give him the resources to see his dream fulfilled, joining the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable growers Association, the Land Stewardship Project, NAFEX (North American fruit explorers) as well as membership in the Organic Fruit Growers Association (in which he is currently a board member), and a mentor, horticulturalist Bob Purvis. Dan is also an accomplished grafter and teaches grafting classes regularly each spring.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.
Dan Sheild also operates a campground at his farm via hipcamp – search for Taylors Falls Stone Creek Farm.

Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food, August Ricing Moon
2026-08-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spirit. We will explore the month of August which is the Ricing Moon. We invite participants into the heart of the late Summer through Indigenous foodways and the teachings of the 13 Moons. Guided by the energy of August, Ricing Moon is a time that honors harvest, berries, corn, and abundance. Participants will experience how food, plants, and seasonal cycles work together to nourish both body and spirit.
The day begins with an introduction to the 13 moons system and cup of berry toasted manoomin tea. The class will then move into a hands-on cooking experience, preparing Bison Wild Rice Stuffed Delicata Squash and Blue Corn with Blueberries. Together, these experiences create a powerful space for learning, creativity, and cultural reconnection. Participants will leave with practical skills, seasonal knowledge, and a deeper understanding of Indigenous wellness systems.
April Smith is also offering Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food, October Falling Leaves Moon on Saturday, October 17th. Register for both classes for a nourishing seasonal series this year.
What to Bring: Notebook for taking notes. $10 materials fee paid directly to instructor on day of class (cash only).
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bio: April Smith, She/Her is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also an Indigenous Educator and Facilitator, an Herbalist from Cornell University, a curriculum designer, and her work is rooted in Ojibwe cultural education and nutrition, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and community wellness. With over 16 years of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for communities and organizations, April brings a unique approach that blends Anishinaabe foodways with modern wellness practices. Her work is grounded in reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for ancestral knowledge. She teaches that food is medicine and that every ingredient has a story, one that connects us all through shared humility and care for Mother Earth.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food, October Falling Leaves Moon
2026-10-17 10:00 - 13:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: The Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spirit. This October workshop guides participants into the quiet strength of the Fall season through Indigenous foodways and the teachings of the 13 Moons. Participants will craft a Medicine Bundle, a medicine bundle is a way for participants to reflect on what they want to carry into their New Year such as gratitude, courage, balance, or healing. Rooted in the energy of the October, Falling Leaves Moon is a time of preparation, reflection, and gratitude. This gathering honors the shift from harvest into rest and readiness for winter.
The class will then move into a hands-on cooking experience. We will prepare a 3 Sisters Bison Stew along with Blue Corn and Blueberries for dessert. This meal reflects traditional food systems rooted in balance and sustainability.
Together, these experiences offer participants a grounded, hands-on cultural learning experience where food and seasonal teachings come together. Participants leave with new skills, deeper seasonal awareness, and medicines they can carry forward into daily life.
April Smith is also offering Indigenous Seasons of Food: August Ricing Moon on Saturday, August 15th. Register for both offerings for a nourishing seasonal series this year.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
What to Bring: A notebook, and $10 materials fee paid directly to the instructor on the day of class (cash only)
Instructor Bio: April Smith, She/Her is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is also an Indigenous Educator and Facilitator, an Herbalist from Cornell University, a curriculum designer, and her work is rooted in Ojibwe cultural education and nutrition, Indigenous Food Sovereignty, and community wellness. With over 16 years of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for communities and organizations, April brings a unique approach that blends Anishinaabe foodways with modern wellness practices. Her work is grounded in reciprocity, sustainability, and respect for ancestral knowledge. She teaches that food is medicine and that every ingredient has a story, one that connects us all through shared humility and care for Mother Earth. April’s Indigenous Cooking Class Series runs from January 2026 through May 2026, featuring five seasonal classes that celebrate traditional Anishinaabe foods and share how the Anishinaabe people lived by the 13 Moon System. Cooking by the 13 Moons: Indigenous Seasons of Food Series invites participants to rediscover the relationship between food, culture, and the land, an experience that nourishes both body and spirit.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Aquaponic Farming: From Fingerling to Fish Fry, A Seven-Month Training Course in Aquaponic Farming
2026-10-19 13:30 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Are you interested in pursuing a career in aquaculture, or diversifying your farm with aquaponics? Growing fish and greens together provides both fresh organic greens and uncontaminated protein from fish. This 7-month course will give you the foundational knowledge you need to build a functioning aquaponic unit and manage the system through the life course of your fish. We will be using yellow perch in a hoophouse at Amador Hill Farm as our lab.
First Class: October 19, 1:30pm-4pm.
Time: Every third Sunday of the month 1:30-4:00p October 2026-May 2027
All Class Dates:

October 18
November 15
December 20
January 17
February 21
March 21
April – tours of UMN aquaponics system; dates TBD
May 16

Location: Classes meet at WEI’s Amador Hill Farm & Orchard just outside North Branch unless otherwise noted.

What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics is the art and science of cultivating fish and plants together in a constructed, re-circulating closed-loop ecosystem, utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish wastes to plant nutrients. WEI’s aquaponic training program is a seven-month lecture and hands-on experience course. The class will begin with basics in aquaponics and aquaculture. Each month we will explore a new topic of study as it relates to aquaponics. The topics will range from aquaponic water chemistry and fish ecology, design and equipment for aquaponic tubs, fish and plant health, planting techniques for growing aquaponic vegetables, system maintenance and equilibrium, equipment resources, lighting/energy efficiency, spawning and fish ribbons, harvesting and market planning, and state regulations for aquaponic farming in Minnesota. This 7-month Training Course will provide you with basic knowledge and skills for building and managing a living aquaponic system.
Readings, homework and take-home exam. You can go as deep as you want in this class in pursuit of your learning experience. The assigned readings will give you background information for the class. You can complete these readings or save for a later day. Chad’s teaching technique is packed with knowledge, years of experience and a wide understanding of aquaculture and climate activism. If you read the assigned articles, you will have a good chance to ask Chad informative questions. We are hoping that each of you may develop a small mini-aquaculture home system or start designing a larger one. The course requires volunteering at least one day at WEI’s winter farm to help take care of the aquaponic system. Students will be given the opportunity to complete a take-home exam to review and write about what they have learned. An optional individual mentorship meeting with Chad will cap this extra effort. Upon successful completion of the class, Chad and Jacquelyn (WEI Director) would be happy to write a letter of support for your future steps into aquaculture.
Instructor bio: Chad Hebert owned and operated the Urban Farm Project for more than 10 years. The Urban Farm Project successfully raised more than 30,000 pounds of yellow perch and almost 50,000 pounds of vegetables. For the past nine years, Chad has participated in a cooperative research agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Science. Chad has completed his HACCP training for both AIS and seafood processing. The Urban Farm Project was involved in a number of aquaponic projects including the project at WEI. Chad is currently working with EPNI to coordinate and implement a larger scale operation. Chad Hebert started the Urban Farm Project with the belief that there was a need to build sustainable food systems that could be available to all people while protecting the planet we live on.
We have one textbook for the class, Sylvia Berstein’s Aquaponic Gardening, which will be issued to students at the beginning of the class.

Reclaiming the Journey of Death and Dying: Green Burials in Minnesota
2026-11-08 09:30 - 15:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: On May 24, 2024, Governor Walz signed a bill legalizing natural organic reduction (human composting) in Minnesota, making us the 11th state to legalize this new option for people to return to the earth naturally, with fewer harmful environmental impacts. Starting July 1, 2025, licensed providers will be able to offer this service in Minnesota.
With green burial options come a new way of thinking about death and the dying process. This unique class provides an introduction to green burial options in Minnesota, given by a leader at the forefront of the state’s green burial movement. This is paired with an exploration of what it means to reclaim the dying process, death rituals, and new ways of understanding the historical, social, cultural, political, spiritual, and ethical contexts that influence our views of death and dying.
In addition to learning about human composting, water cremation, and green burial, the class will explore emerging/returning practices of keeping people at home during the dying process, home vigils, and family/friends directed funerals/rituals. We will end with a variety of local and national resources.
This class will include a morning session, hour+ lunch break with time for a walk outdoors or relaxing stroll through the farm, and an afternoon session.
What to Bring: Please bring your own lunch, notebook and pen. Optional: Feel free to bring an object to place on the centerpiece that represents an experience you’ve had with death.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
Instructor Bios:
Carol Geisler, Ph.D. is a professor who teaches in the Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies at St. Catherine University. She has been interested in the journeys of death and dying for over 30 years in her roles as a nurse, psychologist, and spiritual seeker. She is passionate about consciously reclaiming the dying process and educating people about available choices.

Taelor Johnson is the Communications Director for Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial and helped Interra become one of only two funeral providers in Minnesota to be certified by the national Green Burial Council. She recently testified before the MN House and Senate as part of the successful effort to legalize NOR in Minnesota, and is working to make sustainability-focused disposition options more accessible.
Make a day of it! On the way to WEI, visit charming Lindstrom, MN, for Northwoods Roasterie coffee and a pastry from the Lindstrom Bakery. After class, visit Wild River State Park (only 10 minutes from WEI). Franconia Sculpture Park is also nearby and open ’til 8pm daily.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.

Introduction to Growing and Crafting with Hazel
2026-11-14 10:30 - 16:00 | Women’s Environmental Institute, 15715 River Rd, North Branch, MN 55056, United States
Course Description: Spend a day learning the basics and benefits of growing hazel in the Upper Midwest. We will discuss the various species that grow in our region; ecosystem benefits of these plants; strategies for establishment, maintenance, harvest, and processing; and end the day learning about coppicing and how to craft a wreath with coppiced hazel stems. Whether you’re considering farm-scale agroforestry or looking to add new natives to your backyard, hazel is a resilient source of habitat, food, skin care, mulch, and crafting material.
All are welcome – WEI classes are open to everyone.
If you would be interested in staying overnight at WEI before and/or after this class, please reserve accommodations through our FarmStay.
What to Bring: $10 materials fee paid directly to instructor on day of class. For the crafting portion of the course, students might want to bring work gloves. They are also encouraged to bring pruning shears or be prepared to share with other students. If time allows, we may be able to further decorate the wreaths we make at the end of the course. Students are welcome to bring additional materials for this if they like, such as ribbons and other plant material.
Instructor Bio: Paul Mairet is a beginning farmer and manager of Nine Hazels Farm, a hybrid hazelnut farm and nursery in Lake City, MN. He brings a background in arts and education and recent years of mentorship from hazelnut farmers, researchers, and artisans to his work.
