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It's time for WEI's annual Red Ball Party at the Women's Environmental Institute. It's the right time of year to gather spring cheer and clean the apple maggot traps in preparation for this year's apples. Plastic red balls are hung from WEI's apple trees on July 1 every summer and covered with Tanglefoot (a sticky substance) to trap female apple maggot flies. This is an approved organically certified method of pest control, very labor-intensive but quite successful in stopping apple maggot larval damage inside the apple. Cleaning the red ball traps can be a lot of fun with a lot of helpers.

The workday on Saturday starts at 9:00 a.m. with cleaning the red balls. Drop by any time after 9:00 a.m. but before lunch. Wear old clothes that can be soiled and boots for mud walking. The party picks up at 1:00 p.m. with a feast prepared by chef Nick Schneider who works at Cafe Brenda in Minneapolis. He is already planning the menu. After all the grunge work is over, you will have something quite splendid prepared by Nick. Last year's guests can attest to this. PLEASE RSVP so that we will have enough food for everyone by calling Tria at 651-583-0705.

We need your help with this early orchard project and we can do this together with great folly and fervor. Kids are welcome if accompanied by a caring and vigilant adult. We cannot, however, accommodate the family pets.