September 2026 Meadowlark Organics mill visit

 

We visited Meadowlark Organics near Ridgeway for our September meeting.  Although they are mainly a wholesale business, they also package their products for individual users.  Above is a display with some of their flours.  Jane Stenson provided treats, including delicious banana bread made with their rye flour.  Thanks to Jane for arranging for this very interesting meeting.

Morgan gave us a tour of their mill where they grind grains that they or other organic farmers grow.  She used the dial to show how the two granite mill stones are scored.  The bottom stone is fixed in place and is the white area on the shelf below.  The second stone is lowered and rotates to grind the product to the desired size.  The two stones never touch and the second one is inside the metal band to prevent finger damage.

She explained the coding used so they can identify each  bag of flour, from the small ones for individual bakers to the 50 pound bags for wholesale use, to show the batch it was ground in case there was ever an issue.  

Although buckwheat and corn are naturally gluten free, the mill stones may contain some residue from another grain and the product can't be labeled as gluten free.  They hope to add a separate line dedicated to gluten free products in the future.

                       

August 2026 Annual Picnic

 

We met August 5 for a potluck at Brigham County Park.  Lots of good food and socializing!  It was a dreary day at this lovely park but the skies cleared near the end so we could see Blue Mounds.  Thanks to Roger and Gayl Stewart for organizing this annual picnic and for providing the sloppy joes!

July 2026 Lorna Filippini garden

 

We visited Lorna Filippini's beautiful Mineral Point garden for our July meeting.  In the photo above, she is standing in front of her compost area.  Logs from a dead tree form part of the edging and garden waste and household scraps quickly become valuable soil.   She has many small beds scattered among the trees, controlling water flow and using many native plants as well as other plants like hostas.

June 2026 Flower Drying Presentation

 

No, the above photo isn't dried flowers!  This was at the Dubuque Arboretum which club members visited on Saturday, June 20.  Beautiful weather and great 

Our June 3 meeting was delayed a few days due to severe weather.  Janet Miller shared her expertise on how to dry flowers at our June , including a list of flowers and how to dry them.  The dried flowers will be used at our November meeting with a wreath making demonstration.

 

May 2026 Member Plant Sale

 

Members shopped for vegetables and annuals at our May plant sale. Connie Tibbits grew most of the plants from seed and the sale was in her plant shed.  We greatly appreciate Connie's dedication in growing such beautiful plants and for hosting the sale.  Remaining plants will be available at the Dodgeville Farmers Market, at Roger and Gayl Stewart's stand.

April 2026 Square Foot Gardening

 

The Zoom program was presented by Lisa Johnson, Dane County Extension Horticulture Outreach Specialist. She presented a history of square foot gardening as well as tips on plant spacing, mulching and crop rotation.

Below are some screen shots from her presentation.

 

March 2026 Floral Arrangements at Monticello

 

The March program was a presentation by Janet Miller on floral arrangements and gardens at Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson home. She gave an overview of the grounds that includes an orchard, winery, vegetable gardens and a one acre garden for cuttings for the floral arrangements. She did fresh floral arrangements every other day from May 1-November 1! She also dried flowers from the garden and used those for arrangements for the winter. The arrangements were used for the house and events at Monticello.

          

A wreath and arrangement created by Janet plus a list of some of the famous people who visited events.