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Wednesday, APRIL 13
Maceli’s 1031 New Hampshire St.
Door: 7:00 pm Presentations start at 8:00 pm
$1.00 Cover
Drinks and a mini-menu available.  

NN48
It’s Grow Time

In April we turn our attention back to life. This rebirth takes the form of three presentations concerning our favorite photosynthesizing friends – plants.

In Praise of Plants  ???????? 

by Emily Ryan

From Crisis to Cornucopia: Cuba’s Transition to Sustainable Agriculture

by Ali Brox

The Importance of Being Native

by Courtney Masterson

Descriptions of Discussions in Full Bloom

In Praise of Plants  ???????? 

by Emily Ryan

We can learn a lot from plants–especially if we have specific hopes for them. Within the framework of agriculture, we’ll look at some of the crazy things plants do, consider ways to work with them, and scratch the surface of the sociopolitical outgrowth of it all. Bonus: Tips for how to apply this info in LFK.
If required re-reading were a thing, you’d want to return to Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree as a preface to this presentation.

Biography

Emily formed her perspective of the world somewhere between the branches of sugar maple trees in eastern Ohio. (She really likes the topography there.) By day, she works at The Commons bringing people together across campus and the community. The rest of the time, she’s covered in dirt, either micro-farming in north Lawrence or playing softball.

From Crisis to Cornucopia: Cuba’s Transition to Sustainable Agriculture

by Ali Brox

Recent developments in U.S./Cuba relations raise questions about the future of agriculture in Cuba. This presentation describes the methods and practices of sustainable agriculture in Cuba since 1989, and posits some ideas about what can be learned from Cuba’s transition away from industrial agriculture. It concludes by considering possible outcomes for Cuban agriculture when/if the U.S. embargo is lifted.

Biography

Ali Brox lives in Lawrence and teaches Environmental Studies at KU. Her interest in Cuba was spurred after a trip there in December.

The Importance of Being Native

by Courtney Masterson

What IS a native plant, anyway? There are plants everywhere. How are natives different? Join us as we explore the definition of “native plant,” their infamy, their value, and their beauty.

Biography

Courtney is defending her Master’s Thesis this month (so, be patient with her!). Her research focuses on the effects of deer populations on tallgrass prairie plant communities. She manages the Monarch and Native Plant Programs at Bridging The Gap, which are providing hundreds of free monarch gardens to the citizens of Kansas City. She also runs her own business managing prairies and designing native gardens. Finally, Courtney is also a member of the leadership teams for the Kansas Women’s Environmental Network, the Kaw Valley Native Plant Coalition, and the Kansas City WildLands Seed Team. She’s a plant lunatic. 

Doors open at 7:00 PM. Presentations begin at 8:00. $1 Cover.