This is the 2012 schedule; the 2013 line-up will be announced soon.
“ASK THE EXPERT” is a production of McLeod County Extension Service, directed this year by their very capable intern, Jennifer Janak.
11:00 a.m. – Tom Coffman
“Soil Preparation for Growing Garlic”
Tom will be discussing how to properly prepare soil for growing garlic. Tom has been growing garlic for 12 years, raising 9 varieties of garlic. Coffman Garlic raises garlic in northwestern Dodge County on heavy poorly drained soil.
11:50 a.m. – Susan Johnson
“Choosing the Best Garlic”
“Hmmm…should I use Creole Red or Music tonight in my plate?” With hundreds of garlic varieties out there, how do you decide which one to use in the meal you’re making? Come hear about unscientific garlic taste tests and make plans to do your own. Susan will also share ways to enjoy garlic year around. Beware: A taste test will occur during the talk! Yum!
Susan Johnson of Hawk’s Brain Garlic has been growing garlic for over 25 years and currently grows more than 70 varieties.”
12:40 p.m. – Dr. Beth Ley
“The Health Benefits of Garlic”
Cholesterol lowering, anti-inflammatory, blood thinning, antioxidant (anti-aging), natural antibiotic and other nutritional benefits of garlic based on the latest scientific research.
Dr. Beth does Biblical-based nutrition and wellness counseling in the Twin Cities area and also online (www.blpublications.com). She speaks on nutrition and natural health locally and nationwide. Dr. Beth currently lives in the Minneapolis area with her husband Michael Knotts. Together they produce a healthy cooking show, “Recipes for Life with Dr. Beth” seen on local cable TV throughout MN and nationwide through Sky Angel (channel 126) and Direct TV (channel 378). Tune in Tuesdays (1:30 pm Central) & Saturdays (12:30 Central)!
2:15 p.m. – Jim VanDerPol
“Conservations with the Land”
Last year, some of the best of the columns were combined from the last decade into book form, titled, like the column itself, “Conversations with the Land.” Jim plans to read several of those essays and stories, hopefully spark a discussion and then be available for book signing.
Jim Van Der Pol is a writer, having written a weekly and then monthly column for about twenty five years. Recently, he has written for Graze, a grazing specialty paper published in Wisconsin, as well as Farming, an Amish publication based in Ohio, and the Progressive Populist. Jim has farmed with his wife LeeAnn for thirty five years, the last fifteen in partnership with their son Josh and his wife Cindy and family. On top of farming, they also have their own meat marketing company dedicated to selling the hogs from their own and several other farms. Their farm is small, three hundred and twenty acres, about two thirds in pastures and forage and the remaining third, row cropped in a rotational fashion. They graze dairy heifers and the sows from the hog herd.
2:50 p.m. – Dakota Garlic
“Garlic in Minnesota”
Dave Glaeseman will be discussing the different types of garlic found around the state. Dave has raised garlic for eight years in West Central Minnesota. Along with raising garlic, he has produced vegetable seeds for Baker Creek Seed Company and is a member of the Master Gardeners.
3:40 p.m. – Lee Taylor
“Growing Garlic from Bulbils”
Lee Taylor will be discussing what he observed growing garlic from Bulbils; how one plants and how soil composition seems to help and hinder garlic growth in good and poorer growing conditions.
Lee Taylor graduated Vermillion Community College in Ely, MN with an AAS degree in Natural Resources, also receiving his BS in Education from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. He has been a teacher, coach, machinist, mechanic, potter, and garlic grower. Lee has served in the Army and has received several awards and ribbons for his duties. Lee became interested in growing garlic as a way to make some money after a car accident that disabled him. He started growing garlic after sending an email to Bob Anderson of Gourmet Garlic Gardens, and was introduced to Joel Girardin and many other growers in the state of MN. Lee has been growing garlic for 5 years now and has about 200 different garlic varieties.
4:30 p.m. – Panel of Garlic Growers: Susan Johnson, Dave Glaeseman, Chris Kudrna
Chris and his wife Joanne have lived in St. Cloud for the past 13 years. Several years ago he began growing garlic and now owns and operates Plum Creek Garlic with Joanne on a small farm in Fairhaven Township south of St. Cloud. Chris and Joanne run Plum Creek Garlic not only to grow great garlic but to help build community in the central MN area.
In addition to his garlic fields and a large kitchen garden, 16 acres of the farm was recently planted in prairie as part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). He is also active in nonprofit organizations and currently serves on the board for the Sustainable Farming Association, both at the state and chapter level, and as Treasurer for Renewing of Countryside.
See the bios for Dave Glaeseman and Susan Johnson above.