Magic of Seed Balls: Exploring Nature's Wonders

Saturday, March 30, 2024
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM or 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
drop-ins welcome

$15
Sliding Scale Payment Options Available

Seed ball making class is both educational and fun for kids and adults alike!

We will dive into the super cool world of seed balls! Imagine tiny balls filled with magic - well, not exactly magic, but they're pretty amazing!

Throughout the class, we will learn about the importance of plants, seeds, and biodiversity while engaging in hands-on activities and exploration.

In this class, participants will:

• Learn about nature's guardians: We will discover the role they can play in protecting and preserving our planet by promoting green spaces and biodiversity through seed ball planting.
• Discover the magic of seed balls: We will learn how seed balls work, their benefits for the environment, and how they can be used to bring life to neglected areas.
• Get hands-on: Through interactive demonstrations and activities, we will have the opportunity to create seed balls using clay, soil, and a variety of seeds 

Let's roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and make little gifts for nature!

About the Instructor: Olena Johnson is a certified wild mushroom forager splitting time between Chanhassen and Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota. Here is her foraging story in her own words:

“I grew up in Ukraine and have been mushroom hunting since I was a young child. Back in Ukraine, every fall, my family frequented forests near the Belarussian border to hunt for mushrooms. 

This annual tradition ceased in 1996 after the Chernobyl nuclear accident polluted approximately 2,000,000 acres of forest. Foraging was prohibited in that area as all the wild berries and mushrooms were contaminated by radiation. 

I rediscovered my mushroom hunting hobby approximately 15 years ago while hiking in Banning State Park. There were huge clusters of Honey mushrooms (Armillaria Sp.) along the trail, and mushroom abundance brought back childhood memories as if I were back in the familiar forests. 

From that point forward, I was hooked on mushroom hunting again. I was very familiar with European mushrooms. However, I was very eager to learn about North American mushroom species and their common English names.  

Every summer and fall, I have been trekking up north in search of illusive ‘forest gold’. I purchased tons of mushroom guides, read a multitude of internet posts, and watched an insane amount of YouTube videos. Furthermore, I took mushroom classes and got certified. 

Lo and behold, I started noticing mushrooms everywhere and began sharing my knowledge with curious folks seeing me with baskets full of mushrooms. Each year, I challenge myself to find just as many mushrooms or more than prior years and learn about new species along the way.

Most of the time, I go on my ‘quiet hunt’ alone. I safeguard my ‘forest gold’ spots closely and prefer not to share them with anyone. Nevertheless, occasionally friends and acquaintances will convince me to take small groups on mushroom hunt in the new spots. I am always willing to teach and help ID mushrooms I know well. And when I come back with a large mushroom bounty, most of the time it will be shared amongst my friends. “