Lunch & Learn: Seed Catalogs

Planning a garden next spring? Join Convivium Farm manager AJ to learn the ins and outs of seed catalogs! Now that the ground is frozen, the tools are all put away, and the gardens are all put to bed... It’s time to cozy up next to the fire with a cup of tea, a giant pile of seed catalogs, and start dreaming of next season! During this Lunch & Learn, our Farm Manager AJ will share his seed catalog tips and tricks: What to look for in a seed catalog, how to interpret different catalogs to get the most out of them, the various ways catalogs are organized, and hear all about his personal favorites. For participants planning to order food to eat during the presentation, please plan to arrive 15-20 minutes ahead to place your order at the coffeeshop counter. Your lunch will then be brought to you in the Learning Center to enjoy while you learn! Registration is appreciated but not required for this free program. Instructor AJ Shultz, Convivium's Farm Manager, tends over 13,000 square feet of our gardens. From building healthy soil through harvesting delicious produce, AJ keeps his hands dirty demonstrating the process of growing food to anyone willing to listen. When not in the field, AJ also teaches gardening and composting classes and serves as our garden tour guide. Trust us – you don’t want to miss an opportunity to experience our gardens with him. AJ has been involved in edible and sustainable landscaping and urban gardening most of his adult life. His training and professional background includes working with organic farms and edible landscape organizations in Santa Cruz, California; Huelo, Hawaii; and Margaret River, Australia. An Iowa native, AJ returned to the area in 2011 to raise a family with his wife Kerri, also an Iowa native. They now have two growing daughters, Josey and Marny.