The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum at the University of Minnesota is hosting a series of Eco-Networking events to host experiential networking to uncover practical solutions to everyday sustainability problems. Join us at any or all of our events. Beverly Anglum | anglu001@umn.edu | www.arboretum.umn.edu

1. Eco-Networking for Sustainable Solutions
2013 Schedule of Events
Eco-Networking for Sustainable Solutions is a business-to-business networking series hosted
by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It is an invitation to the entire Twin Cities business
community to network at the intersect of divergent industries, ideas, and business practices. It
is an intentional exercise in the cross-pollination of ideas and leading-edge sustainable
practices to foster growth and eco-innovation.
Join the sustainability conversation, make important business connections and discover new
ideas and resources for implementing bold, practical, eco-friendly solutions.
Business Networking for Sustainable Solutions Kick-Off Event
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Topic: Sustainability – It’s what’s for Lunch
Business Networking for Sustainable Solutions
Friday, January 25th, 2013
Topic: Sustainability – Innovative Community Involvement - The ‘How Tos’ of Corporate
Community Giving Gardens
Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota Conference
Feb. 15th-16th, 2013
The goal of the Sustainable Farming Association is to help Minnesota farmers along the path to
success and self-sustainability. The focus of the 2012 annual conference is to bring together
rural to urban farmers in a joint effort to find solutions to farming and agricultural challenges
involving policy, regulations, economics, business practices, safety, networking, and to share
best practices. The conference will feature a variety of breakout sessions, speakers, and
exhibits on the different paths our farms and communities need to embrace to lead a more
sustainable existence.
School Garden Conference
Feb 22nd, 2013
Research shows that developing a child's appreciation of nature enhances their physical health,
cognitive and social development, and creativity. Discover how and why to transform schools'
extensive paved surfaces into a sustained vibrant mosaic of outdoor learning and play
opportunities. Explore innovative ways to weave curricula into school landscapes, diversify
educational recreational offerings, enhance local ecology, and reflect each school's location and
cultural context. This conference will share experiences, case studies, and best practices about
creating and sustaining cutting edge schoolyards and school gardens. Attendees will meet like-
minded colleagues while sharing ideas, and get inspired to bring these ideas back to their
communities.
Beekeeping in Northern Climates Workshop
March 2nd and 3rd, 2013
This two day course provides all the information necessary to keep bees in cold climates. We
take you through two years of beekeeping; purchasing and assembling equipment, ordering
bees and queens, hiving packages, ensuring colony survival through winter, dividing colonies in
the spring, and producing, harvesting, extracting, bottling, and selling honey. We also cover the
important basics of disease and mite management and control, emphasizing a reduction in
chemical use within bee hives. This unique workshop is taught by Marla Spivak (University of
Minnesota Entomology professor, MacArthur Fellow, and Distinguished McKnight Professor)
and Gary Reuter (University of Minnesota Scientist and President of the American Beekeeping
Federation).

2. Eco-Networking for Sustainable Solutions
2013 Schedule of Events, cont’d.
Spring Garden Expo
March 8th-10th, 2013
Learn more about growing, buying, and enjoying plants. Start your spring plant-growing
journey be joining in the conversation with nationally respected authors of gardening books
and have your books signed by the authors. Get down-to-earth gardening advice from leading
University of Minnesota horticulture experts and Arboretum experts on tried-and-true as well
as new research and testing results in growing plants. Enjoy time spent with other gardening
enthusiasts and talk with plant society representatives. Revel in what the Arboretum has to
offer during the first spring awakenings.
Business Networking for Sustainable Solutions
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Topic: Sustainability – What’s Wellness Got to Do with It?
Business Networking for Sustainable Solutions
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Topic: Bio-Inspiration for Business
Clean Water Summit
Sept. 15th, 2013
The annual Clean Water Summit brings together a wide variety of individuals, communities,
businesses, and organizations involved in maintaining clean water in our communities.
Featured presentations will address technical aspects as well as policy and planning
issues that are tied with the economic, social, and environmental impact of protecting and
achieving clean water. A focus is selected for the summit each year.
Business Networking for Sustainable Solutions
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Topic: Building a Sustainable Brand
Healthy Foods, Healthy Lifestyles Summit
First week of Oct. 2013
The safety, quality, and availability of the food that humans consume are constant concerns.
The Healthy Foods Summit seeks to examine the impacts of current food system approaches
on human health around the world. The symposium will identify critical points in the system
where intervention can improve human health, exploring both "conventional" and "sustainable"
approaches and seeking common purpose.
To this end, the summit will feature research and best-practice case studies that integrate
human-health research and food-system decision making. Speakers across disciplines and
from around the world will share knowledge and expertise and provide a framework for
coordinated, collaborative research and policy. Together, participants will address such
questions as how communities are engaging in creative strategies to improve their own food
environments, and what industry, academia, government, and non-profits are doing to
improve health outcomes across all populations.
Holiday Networking for Sustainable Solutions
Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013
Topic: Strictly Social – Using Social Media to tell an Eco-Story