Sandy Seed Library News - January 2026

 

Happy December, Gardeners!

I know they say time moves faster when you get older, but seriously … I can't believe it's December already.

I went on the November hike led by Dakota and Erik of Clackamas River Basin Council, and found out that they have resources to help residents that live on a stream to remove invasive species from their property. I was told that they are especially interested in Sandy residents who live off of Tickle Creek that need help removing blackberries. If you, or someone you know, lives off of Tickle Creek and would like some help removing blackberries, please reach out at 503-303-4372. You can also learn more from their website.

December Book Club Picks

    Here are what the Sandy and Hoodland book clubs have decided to read in December: 

Men's Book Club

Monday, December 1
7:00 PM
Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Clear by Carys Davies

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Digital Book Club 

Thursday, December 4
7:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Choose Your Own Adventure! Read one of the following titles and be ready to discuss: Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva, The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

For further information and to receive the Zoom link, contact Kat Aden: kaden@ci.sandy.or.us

Women's Book Club

Thursday, December 11

6:00 PM

Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Hoodland Book Club

Tuesday, December 16

4:00 PM

Hoodland Community Room

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

For further information please contact Alex Steinmetz: asteinmetz@ci.sandy.or.us

Sandy Seed Library News - November 2025

Happy November, Gardeners!

This last summer, when we had the master gardeners out to speak on gardening for pollinators, one of the presenters inspired me with the idea of having crocuses in my lawn! I already have a few under my maple tree, but I decided that I wanted to look into it more and I thought I would share some of the videos, articles, and retailers I found along the way.

Additionally, now is the time to sow certain flower seeds! Adaptive Seeds out of Sweet Home, Oregon, has suggested the following flower seeds to sow in the fall for the spring (everything in bold is currently available in the seed library):

Annuals                                                                

• Bachelor's Buttons
• Calendula
• Coreopsis
• Nigella
• Poppies
• Snapdragons
• Sweet Peas

        Perennials

• Blanket Flower
• Columbine
• Coneflower
• Rudbeckia
• True Hyssop

They also mentioned Fava Beans (currently in the seed library under "C" for cover crop), not just as a cover crop, but if you are interested in a higher, and earlier yield, sowing them now is a great time.

Crocus Lawn Resources

• Video: How to Grow a Crocus Lawn -- Autumn Bulb Growing Tips for Winter Flowers
• Portland Monthly: Lawn Crocus
• Supplier: Dutch Bulbs*
• Supplier: Van Engelen Inc.*

* I have not personally used these sites; they were mentioned through multiple sources, including the Portland Monthly article, and I wanted to share.

November Book Club Picks

   Here are what the Sandy and Hoodland book clubs have decided to read in November: 

Men's Book Club

Monday, November 3
7:00 PM
Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Digital Book Club 

Thursday, November 6
7:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

For further information and to receive the Zoom link, contact Kat Aden: kaden@ci.sandy.or.us

Women's Book Club

Thursday, November 13

6:00 PM

Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Hoodland Book Club

Tuesday, November 18

4:00 PM

Hoodland Community Room

Go as a River by Shelley Read

For further information please contact Alex Steinmetz: asteinmetz@ci.sandy.or.us

Sandy Seed Library News - October 2025

Happy October, Gardeners!

I have been diving into all-things garlic! But before I share with you what I have been gathering, I wanted to also touch base on cover crops. Now is the time to get those seeds planted and we have a couple of seed packets dedicated to it in our seed library. You will find Fava Beans and Kodiak Mustard Greens in the "C" drawer under "Cover Crops."

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District has opened up a special landscaping grant to City of Sandy residents!

Their Priorities: "We help people in Clackamas County solve land management problems on private property. This includes improving habitats for wildlife, controlling erosion, getting rid of harmful weeds, replacing failing septic systems, keeping forests healthy, and more."

Mini Habitat Kit Grants from CSWCD - Apply Here

"Habitats know no boundaries." By providing native plants in your yard you can support biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem.

These native plant kits are designed for City of Sandy residents with properties of three acres or less aiming to help enhance their yards with native plants.

Each kit will contain either 20 in-ground native plants or 5 native patio plantings, along with native pollinator seeds. 

October Book Club Picks!

 Here are what the Sandy and Hoodland book clubs have decided to read in September: 

Digital Book Club

Thursday, October 2
7:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

For further information and to receive the Zoom link, contact Kat Aden: kaden@ci.sandy.or.us

Men's Book Club 

Monday, October 6
7:00 PM
Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Women's Book Club

Thursday, October 9th

6:00 PM

Hoyt Community Room in the Sandy Library

Same Author October - Agatha Christie

For further information please contact Maureen Houck: mhouck@ci.sandy.or.us

Hoodland Book Club

Tuesday, October 21st

4:00 PM

Hoodland Community Room

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

For further information please contact Alex Steinmetz: asteinmetz@ci.sandy.or.us

Sandy Seed Library News - September 2025

 

Happy September, Gardeners!

Our Sandy Seed Library Series of programs for 2025 wraps up this month. I can't believe it. What a fun year! I am so grateful to all of the volunteers that have come out to share their expertise and passion with us and all the learning we have been able to do as a result.

With that in mind, are there any topics that you are hoping for in 2026? Autumn and winter are my planning seasons, and I would love to hear from you.