Another Fun Event!

Pickin' and Grinin'

What a great turnout for this years Seed Exchange!


Thank you to Cherry Glen Learning Farm for providing the venue

 

Matt and Randy brought their special blend of Iowa Bluegrass!

 

 

The Iowa Food Cooperative was also on hand to share information and local chips and salsa, YUM!





Ellen Sattler presented her "Ready Set Grow" seed starting program.  She also provided soil and pots for attendees to start their own seeds right away!  Thanks Ellen! 

An enthusiastic audience for "Ready, Set, Grow"

A new thing added this year was our "live" networked events around the Midwest.


Viewing on my phone (technical difficulties) the Big Screen next year :)

Scott Haase shared from his Cob Building Workshop held at Blue Dirt Farm in Minnesota!  All reports are that this was a stellar event!

"Cob Workshop to Seed Exchange, Come in, Over!"





Mixing Cob

We also got a "live" personalized tour via Google Hangouts of the Marion Ohio park that is being transformed into a into an "Edible Forest and Community Gardens" using Permaculture principles and techniques. 

A Big Thanks to Steve Harbolt of the OhioGSD crew, too!

 

 Read more about this great project here -

http://www.marionstar.com/story/news/2015/10/20/park-land-transformed-food-space/74279594/

Other guests you might have gotten to chat with include Forest Avenue Outreach, Fauxboo Creations, Nine Square Feet and Autumn's Garden.


Thank you to everyone that made the drive out to Polk City and shared their time, gifts and seeds!


Have a great week and Best of Luck this upcoming growing season!!!

 

"Ready, Set, Grow!" at the Seed Exchange

This year's Seed Exchange will host Ellen Sattler, who will present a short program on seed starting.

Is your starting rack ready? Or are you going straight into the ground?

Ellen is a 9th year Polk County 4-H member and throughout those years she has developed a passion for Horticulture. She has put together what she has learned into a presentation called “Ready, Set, Grow!” the steps to starting your own seeds.



Ellen teaching students at Crestview School of Inquiry



Plants starts

 

Transplanting with students at Children and Families Urban Movement

Each year just gets better and better!
 
Let us know you are coming, RSVP here
https://www.facebook.com/events/861433223998162/

Leave a comment or post a message with anything special you are looking for,

or if you are bringing something special to share!!!

Read more about the 2017 Seed Exchange Super Party here
http://abundantdesigniowa.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-seed-exchange-super-party.html

See you next weekend  ...the first weekend of SPRING!!!

Seed Exchange Musical Guests

I'm excited to announce that Matthew "Sweet Tater" TeRonde will be returning to this years Seed Exchange with his multi-instrument talents along with friend Randy Gibson on banjo for some good ol' pickin' and grinnin' music and fun!

https://youtu.be/hbhmzkZhjoA



RSVP here
https://www.facebook.com/events/861433223998162/

Read more about the 2017 Seed Exchange Super Party here
http://abundantdesigniowa.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-seed-exchange-super-party.html

Home Show Recap

What a great weekend to hide form the snow and visit a tropical retreat right here in Des Moines, Iowa.  The icy winds, wintery mix and snow were forgotten a bit as you entered Hy-Vee Hall.

As mentioned last week Abundant Design spent the week working with The Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity's ReStore on one of this year's Feature Gardens at the Home and Outdoor Living Show.

Abundant Design's "Fire pit" is always a hit at these events!

 

 Read more about how this Backyard Oasis feature inspired a mother-daughter team

 

 

Our partnership created a Shipping Container BBQ Shack with moveable outdoor kitchen island, complete with an "herb spiral" close at hand...

Herb spirals are ingenious features that combine multiple growing zones or environments into a small area.  These structures are easily maintained, resilient and attractive.  The hardscape, often upcycled materials, helps hold aggressive herbs within their boundaries.  Positioned close to your kitchen, these specialty plantings provide the freshest herbs you can get! 

The gathering space had a tropical beach feel with bright colors, sand, tropical canna lilies and lemongrass. 

https://twitter.com/HomeShowDM/status/840997296473030656/photo/1

The water feature was a new addition missing from last year's show that provided the soothing sounds of running water, as well as a place to grow Chinese Water Chestnuts, and native wetland edibles like cattail and arrowhead.



Corner "food forest" with apple, serviceberry, currants and more along with a stepper path

Thanks to all the people who stopped and visited with us about the ReStore, Habitat for Humanity and Abundant Design.



Don't forget the Seed Exchange is right around the corner too!

Click Here  > >  RSVP  < <  Click Here

RSVP early for all the updates and announcements!

 

2017 Des Moines Home+Outdoor Living Show

Next weekend head down to the Iowa Events Center for the Des Moines Home+Outdoor Living Show.

Buy 2-for-1 tickets online!

Abundant Design has been working with The Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity's ReStore on one of this year's Feature Gardens. 

Did you miss it last year?  Click Here 

The ReStore sells new and used home improvement materials to the public at discounted prices. When you shop, all the proceeds from the ReStore benefit the mission of GDM Habitat to build more homes, communities, and hope right here in the Des Moines area.


This vegetable garden used upcylced bricks from the ReStore for edging
and kept them from being sent to the landfill!  Read more...

Habitat's Studio in a Box from the
DSM Home and Garden Show

Shipping Containers are one of the latest trends in architecture and "upcycling".  From Tiny Houses to Shopping Malls the uses for the repurposed items seem limited only by the imagination


Top 26 Innovative Uses of Shipping Containers

For the Home+Outdoor Living Show, the ReStore will display a Backyard BBQ Shack built from a converted shipping container. This would make a great place to eat, socialize and more in your backyard retreat. 

Look for Abundant Design's touch in the feature garden with culinary herbs close by the cooking area, tasty and healthy desserts growing nearby, and more within this trendy gathering space.

RSVP on Facebook and Invite your Friends!

See you next weekend!

The Spring season is really ramping up!  Don't wait if you would like an Abundant Design for your backyard gathering space and more.  Contact us today!