Updated Garden Fair info will be added here by late March 2012. Below is the 2011 information; many vendors will be back for 2012.
The Garden Fair is located outside, to the southwest of the entrance to the Grandstand. It opens before the Plant Sale, and runs throughout the sale’s hours:
Thursday 5:00-9:00 p.m. (volunteer pre-sale)
Friday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Some vendors may be open longer hours than these. Some may not be open on Sunday. We’ll add more vendors to this page as information becomes available. Vendors confirmed so far:
Angela Graney
Get started on your sustainable dream! Learn more about urban chickens, coldframes, organic gardening, honey bees and wood-fired ovens. What could you do in a year? Practical advice on building your Sustainable Urban Lifestyle. Workshops on Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to build a coldframe from old windows (more info and sign up here).
Bovine Basic
100% cow manure, anaerobically digested for use as a soil amendment. 99%+ weed seed-free. 100% manure nutrient value. www.DairyLandNatural.com
Brandy Tang
Brandy Tang offers contemporary eco-friendly, socially conscious products. At the Friends Sale, Brandy Tang will feature gardening items that embrace this philosophy including American-made tomato cages, trellises, and hooks in fresh-picked summer colors; metal fairy art; and recycled toys for “little gardeners.”www.brandytang.com
Ceramic Chinn
Featuring Planting Rings at the Plant Sale. Planting Rings act as a root barrier similar to sinking a potted plant. Planting Rings have vertical sides, no bottom and are made from frost-hardy clay. This allows superior drainage and durability as compared to buried standard pots.
Chicken Stix
A revolution in home gardening. With Chicken Stix, you can quickly and easily create yard and garden fences and enclosures safely to keep critters out of your prized garden or keep your chickens in the yard. Reduces injury, saves time, eliminates waste, easy storage, adaptable, versatile. www.chickenstix.webs.com
Cowsmo
Cowsmo Inc. makes and sells organic compost and potting soils throughout the midwest. Cowsmo is a company owned and operated by fifth-generation dairy farmers near Cochrane, Wisconsin. Cowsmo Compost is the finest compost available in the Midwest. www.rwdairy.com
Curtis Ingvoldstad, Wood Sculptor
This year I’ll be demonstrating my carving at the Plant Sale! I custom carve trees both in yards and in my studio. I have created special pieces for the Plant Sale, such as unique statues for the garden, inspired benches and one-of-a-kind furniture.
Dick’s Designs
Dick’s Designs specializes in rustic garden ornaments made from recycled scrap iron, including animals, birds, flowers, and much more! This will be Dick’s seventh year at the Plant Sale.
Down Home Enterprises
Garden art, from rusty garden flowers to a mix of stained glass to bird feeders to kinetic movement. Steel, glass, stone and antique finds. Whimsical snails, insects to enjoy in your garden setting.
Garden Iron Imports
Baskets, planters, topiaries, trellises, arbors, gazebos, window boxes, armillary spheres, fences, chandeliers, benches, chairs, decorative items, and more.
Egg | Plant
Audrey from the Egg|Plant urban farm supply (located on Selby Ave. in St. Paul) will be sharing info on raising chickens in your own back yard. eggplantsupply.com
Giving Tree Gardens
A full-service, earth-friendly landscaping and organic gardening company. We offer design, installation and maintenance of landscapes and gardens that create a positive environmental impact. We also offer on-site consultation for homeowners, businesses, neighborhood groups and nonprofits looking to go green! www.givingtreegardens.com
Growing Blue Flowers
My insect repellants, hand sanitizers, salves and soaps are all handmade with 100% natural ingredients, in harmony with nature. www.growingblueflowers.com
Iron Images by Homer
Yard and garden sculptures made from new and used stainless steel flatware that will not tarnish or rust. Plus tinted gazing balls made from ball bearings, heated to bring out the color of the steel, then clear-coated with rust-resistant clear paint. Very long lasting indoors and out.
Minnesota State Horticultural Society
A nonprofit membership organization that serves northern gardeners through education, encouragement and community. Members enjoy a variety of valuable benefits, including the award-winning magazine, Northern Gardener. Offering a Special Discount on membership at Friends School Plant Sale (see ad on page 27 of the catalog). www.northerngardener.org
North Country Herbalist Guild
Members of the North Country Herbalists Guild, located indoors in the herb section, will once again be available to help shoppers with their herb selections. NCHG sponsors monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month. Meetings are open to the public. At our meetings we sponsor a local speaker to discuss topics designed to advance the study of the therapeutic use of herbs. www.nchg.org
Paramount Green
Local supplier of pure worm castings fertilizer. New this year: premium, six-part all-natural and organic potting soil blend and household worm castings tea brewer. Bring the life back to your soil, with our highly active products guaranteeing results!
Terrace Horticultural Books
Books, gardening ephemera, periodicals and journals, seed packets, seed and plant catalogs, and unframed botanical art. The Twin Cities’ premier seller of used and new gardening books.
Urban Farming
We plant food gardens for people in need on unused urban land and educate youth, adults and seniors on sustainable systems. We are accepting donations of organic vegetable plants and fruit trees from people attending the plant sale. For every $1 donation, receive a coffee bag to use as a natural weed barrier or to grow potatoes.
Winsome Orchids. Offering tropical, indoor orchids for low or high light conditions. We’ll be inside the Plant Sale building, under the center stairway across from the Info Desk. Find out more about what we’ll be selling at the sale.
FOOD VENDORS AT THE GARDEN FAIR
Hampden Park Co-op
Located midway between St. Paul and Minneapolis. A unique, traditional, and volunteer-based co-op, providing a full line of natural and organic foods, including bulk food, spices, nuts, produce, dairy and meat. At Hampden Park Co-op, everyone is welcome. We’ll be giving away free fruit each morning at the Plant Sale.
Popped fresh with a mix of sweet and salty. It’s a State Fair treat in May!
Smokey’s Charbroiler
Featuring quarter-pound chopped beefsteak burgers, all-beef hot dogs, and breast-meat chicken strips. Plus bratwurst, fancy extra-long french fries, onion rings, corn dogs, grilled chicken or ham sandwiches,and fountain pop. Smokey’s hours are a bit different during the sale:
Thursday 10:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Individual locations will be posted here soon and on large maps at the Garden Fair.
These vendors will be outside:
Angela Graney
Brandy Tang
Ceramic Chinn
Curtis Ingvoldstad
Dick’s Designs
Giving Tree Gardens
Hampden Park Co-op
Kettle Corn
Minnesota State Horticultural Society
Smokey’s Charbroiler
These vendors will be inside the Grandstand:
North Country Herbalists Guild (in the herb section)
Terrace Horticultural Books (along the edge of the stairs)
Urban Farming (near the entrance and exit)
Winsome Orchids (under the stairs)
