Dassel-Cokato Sustainable Living

06/02/2026

If you're interested in composting and/or no-till gardening, check out our new blog post on these topics, based on our class with Becky Bravinder from last April! A much belated THANK YOU to Becky for teaching this wonderful class to about 30 community members on her farm in Cokato!

First off, Becky recommends the regenerative soil and permaculture expert, Matt Powers; you can check out his channel on YouTube. She also recommends Ben Faulk, author of The Resilient Farm and Homestead.CompostingThere are many different methods and setups for composting. Becky and I covered a few....

05/31/2026

From Backyard to Medicine Cabinet: 5 Herbs Every Home Should Know

A Hands-On Intro to Herbalism Workshop

Curious about herbalism but not sure where to begin? This is your starting point.

Join Connie Karstens for a fun, practical, and beginner-friendly workshop designed to help you confidently start using herbs in your everyday life.

In this hands-on class, you’ll get to know five powerful, easy-to-use herbs that belong in every home apothecary:
- Plantain
- Yarrow
- Lemon Balm
- Wild Bergamot
- Chamomile

You’ll learn how to use these herbs for everyday wellness and simple first aid—think bug bites, skin irritation, minor cuts, stress support, digestion, and more.

What You’ll Learn:
- Herbalism basics (without the overwhelm)
- How to start using herbs safely and confidently at home
- Practical, real-life uses for each of the 5 herbs
- How to make herbal tinctures
- How to infuse herbal oils
- How to create simple herbal salves
- How to begin building your own home herbal toolkit

This is a hands-on experience

You won’t just learn—you’ll make and take.

You’ll Go Home With:
- A mini herbal salve
- An infused oil
- A tincture sample
- Recipe sheets you can actually use
- Herb monographs for all 5 plants

Whether you’re looking to support your family naturally, explore herbal remedies, or simply reconnect with the plants around you, this class will give you practical tools you can start using right away.

No prior experience needed—just come ready to learn and get your hands involved.

📍 Location: The Lamb Shoppe & Wellness Center
🗓️ Date: Saturday, June 20
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
💲 Investment: $79 per person

Spots will be limited to keep the experience interactive and hands-on.

05/31/2026

Nature Play is Back This Summer

Activities include:
Binoculars for wildlife spotting and nature observation
A reading corner with nature-themed books
Nature play stations
Coloring sheets
Additional nature-inspired activities

Schedule:
Mondays and Wednesdays
June 1 through August 26
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free

Robert Ney Memorial Nature Center

Please note:
Nature Play will not take place on July 27 or August 5.

Bring your kids, drop in anytime, and let their curiosity lead the adventure.

05/30/2026

Thanks again to Tim Barberg for such a fun and interesting class on Birds & Birding this beautiful morning! His entertaining stories and presentation really illuminated how amazing birds truly are, and we had a great time on the trail enjoying the sights and sounds of nature while identifying some birds and their unique calls.

You can see some birding books that Tim uses in the second photo here, and a couple of participants also recommend the mobile app Merlin (produced by the Cornell Ornithology Lab) for identifying birds by photo or sound and providing more detail about each kind of bird.

05/29/2026

Thanks to Heather Holm for a truly fascinating talk about bees, beneficial insects, and how to attract them to your garden and fruit trees!

We learned there are 1400 different species of wasps, and only 10 of them sting! Also, different types of wasps feed on different types of prey. Parasitoid wasps will hunt aphids to use as incubators for their young, and consequently help curb an aphid infestation.

You can find many handouts and great visual resources on beneficial insects and plants that attract them on Heather's website here: https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/resources.html

You can also learn all about native Minnesota bees at her nonprofit's website here: https://www.beesmn.org/

Thanks also to the Cokato Library for partnering with us to bring this event to Cokato!

And if you're interested in birds and birding, there are still spots left for this introductory class with Tim Barberg Sat May 30 9-11a! Register for free at www.dcsustainableliving.org

Click on fact sheet to download:

05/28/2026

Did you know?

This time of year is near the peak of spring migration in Minnesota, with millions of birds returning to the state.

The vast majority of songbirds migrate at night to avoid predators, stay cool, and use the stars to navigate.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds weigh roughly the same as a penny (about 3 grams). They fly all the way from Central America and the Gulf of Mexico, perfectly timing their arrival in Minnesota to match the blooming of spring flowers.

If you'd like to learn more about birds in our area, join us this Saturday, May 30 9-11a at Collinwood Park for Birds & Birding with Tim Barberg! There are still spots, but please register (free) as space is limited. www.dcsustainableliving.org

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

We have two great events coming up next week - 1) Attracting Bees and Beneficial Insects to Your Fruit and Vegetable Garden and 2) Birds & Birding! Find more info and free registration at www.dcsustainableliving.org