Find out how city folk raise backyard chickens at the Parade of Chicken Coops from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The free self-guided tour includes an assortment of coops ranging from simple structures built out of recycled materials to elaborate chicken homes for pampered pets. Owners will share tips on how to build your own coop, which breeds are best for our cold climate and how to keep them warm. You'll also see a variety of beautiful hens.

Pick up a map at EggPlant UrbanFarm Supply, 1771 Selby Av., St. Paul or call 651-645-0818. An online map is at sites.google.com/site/twincitiescooptour/.

Grape-breeding What does it take to breed a cold-hardy grape for Minnesota growers? The University of Minnesota's Horticultural Research Center is holding an open house and fall tour from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Several varieties will be available for sampling and discussion. Visitors can also tour the research vineyards and the experimental wine lab. The Horticultural Research Center (HRC) is located on Hwy. 5, about 1.5 miles west of the Arboretum entrance, at the intersection with Rolling Acres Road. Look for the Apple House signs. Call 952-443-1400.

Small-space gardening Who needs a yard? William Moss believes you can grow food almost anywhere.

Moss is a horticultural educator who has appeared on TV shows such as HGTV's "Dig In." He's also a practitioner of small-space gardening, the topic of his book, "Any Size, Anywhere Edible Gardening: The No Yard, No Time, No Problem Way to Grow Your Own Food" (Cool Springs Press, $21.99).

Moss offers ideas for finding space to garden, techniques for creating and maintaining gardens and basic growing information. The bulk of the book, however, is dedicated to details about plants that grow well in compact spaces, with an entire chapter devoted to that all-time favorite, the tomato.

AKRON BEACON JOURNAL