(Mostly) Monthly News for Gardeners
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News and events for gardeners from Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and other trusted partners
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Regular Features
- This is the time to...
- Pest Reports
- Plant Picks
- Skill Share
- Volunteer and Project Profile
- Food and Nutrition
- Organizations and Resources
- Upcoming Events
- Mission and Quick Links
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This is the time to...
By Kate Garland, Horticulturist UMaine Cooperative Extension Penobscot County
- Keep weeding. I know many of you are ready to toss in the trowel and let nature take its course at this point in the season, but consider the concepts “weed seed rain” and “soil seed bank” before calling it quits. Many of our common weeds “rain” hundreds, thousands, and even hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant. Seed longevity depends on species and environmental conditions, but they can often remain viable in the soil seed bank for 30-40 years simply waiting for the right conditions to germinate.
- Promptly remove wanted plants that can become weeds if allowed to set seed. Cosmos, dill, cilantro, and tomatoes are just a few of the many examples of plants with seeds hardy enough to survive our winters and eventually result in countless seedlings in subsequent years. This trait can be appreciated by gardeners who appreciate a more wild aesthetic, but can madden those looking for more managed and clean lines in the garden.
- Apply animal manures in the vegetable garden. To minimize risk of food-borne illnesses, Guidelines for Using Manure on Vegetable Gardens suggests fall applications of animal manures are your safest bet. Never use cat, dog or pig manure in vegetable gardens or compost piles. Parasites that may be in these types of manure are more likely to survive and infect people than those in other types of manure. It is also important to keep your pets out of your vegetable garden.
- Shred and store fallen leaves for a year-round supply of brown (relatively high carbon) materials for your backyard compost pile. Leaves pair well with common kitchen scraps as part of a well-balanced diet for the microorganisms behind the decomposition process.
- Remove plant debris. This is especially important if your plants have experienced insect or disease pressure this season. Some pests and pathogens overwinter in the debris and simple housekeeping can make a big difference with managing those problems next year.
- Add features to extend your season. Even if you’re not planning on Extending the Gardening Season this fall, establishing the infrastructure now will make it that much easier to get a jump on the season next spring.
- Have your soil tested. You’ve heard us say it a million times, but I’ll say it again. Testing your soil helps gardeners understand what might be limiting optimal plant growth and will provide specific recommendations regarding what and how much should be added to eliminate any nutritional deficiencies or bring pH to an appropriate level. A standard soil test will also provide a lead scan and estimate the percentage of organic matter in your soil. Request a kit here.
- Plant spring flowering bulbs. Did you know that 2019 is the 100th anniversary of Maine ratifying the 19th Amendment? Did you know the daffodil was the flower of the suffrage movement? Celebrate “votes for women!” this fall by planting daffodils in your home, work or community landscape. Learn more.
- Treat yourself next spring by cleaning and sharpening tools before storing for the winter. Read some great tips and tricks here. Don’t forget to take advantage of the few remaining warm sunny days to drain, coil, and store that garden hose!
- Take plenty of photos and notes about what worked and what could be better next year. You’ll thank yourself when you’re busy developing a game plan this winter!
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The Western Conifer Seed Bug
by Leala Machesney
Horticulture Graduate Student, The University of Arkansas
Western conifer seed bugs (Leptoglossus occidentalis) will soon begin migrating inside buildings to overwinter and, subsequently, samples of these insects will begin to trickle into UMaine Extension offices statewide. These insects do not pose a threat to human health and are not known to damage buildings, but they can become a nuisance — especially if they arrive in significant numbers.
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Gaultheria Procumbens, a Small Evergreen with a Large Scent
By Kookie McNerney, Home Horticulture Coordinator, UMaine Extension Cumberland County
While hiking, have you ever noticed the sweet scent of wintergreen below your feet? If you have, it most likely emanated from Gaultheria procumbens, more commonly known as Wintergreen or Eastern Teaberry. It is indeed the most noteworthy characteristic of this Maine native plant. Both the leaves and the berries exude a crisp, refreshing wintergreen scent. If it were not for the scent, you might just miss this otherwise diminutive sub-shrub species.
Wintergreen has medicinal properties due to the anti-inflammatory compound, methyl salicylate, which is now largely synthetically produced. Consumption of the essential oil of Gaultheria is toxic in large doses, but this species was once commonly used as the flavoring for chewing gums, toothpastes, medicines, and teas. It can still be found in some common candies.
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Daffodil Tribute: United We Bloom
Over 100 years ago, Maine suffragists chose the jonquil (daffodil) as their flower symbol. Bouquets of daffodils graced suffrage teas and mass meetings, and at hearings in Augusta supportive legislators wore them in their lapels.
To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Maine ratifying the 19th Amendment (which in 2019 coincidentally falls on November 5, election day!), the Maine Suffrage Centennial Collaborative invites people across the state to plant daffodil bulbs this fall.
Artists can create something daffodil-inspired, either as a stand-alone project or in collaboration with a local gardening effort.
Libraries, schools, cities and towns, businesses, garden clubs, landscapers, backyard gardeners, and anyone else can join in the fun!
Next spring, and for years to come, these beautiful flowers will blanket parks, gardens, window boxes, roadsides and outdoor spaces across the state to remind us of the suffrage centennial.
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Is Your Yard a Bare Cupboard for Pollinators?
By Rebecca Long, Agriculture and Food Systems Professional, UMaine Extension Oxford County
This is not an article like
Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine
, about the importance of native pollinators, but rather one that hopes you are already convinced of that. Just in case, I’ll mention that 75% of flowering plants require animal pollinators to reproduce and 1/3 of our food is the direct result of animal pollination. Instead, this is an article about what we can do, in our own backyards, to bolster native pollinator populations. To get to the answer, we’ll start with two important concepts.
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Fun and Challenges of Building a Community Garden
By Kevin McKeon, Master Gardener Volunteer, Class of 2019
After acquiring what is now known as The McKeon Environmental Reserve, the Directors of the Mousam Way Land Trust endorsed the concept to plan and build a community ecology center. The David and Linda Pence Community Ecology Center, named after the generous folks who put the fundraising for Reserve property acquisition over the top, will include an Environmental Center where folks can hold meetings; a small workshop for making bird nesting boxes, bat houses, informational signs, and other eco-oriented projects; an environmental library, attuned towards school kids; an ADA-accessible outdoor restroom; an industrial-sized greenhouse; and a nursery to propagate various plants for the Nature Trail and other ongoing projects:
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Food & Nutrition: Fall is for Food Safety
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has countless food safety and food preservation resources. Please enjoy some of our seasonal favorites.
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Organizations and Resources
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Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
Bangor Land Trust
is a nonprofit organization that has conserved over 800 acres of land with public access in the Bangor area. Our mission is to protect for public benefit land and water in the Bangor region that have special ecological, natural, scenic, agricultural, or recreational significance; and to increase public understanding of the value of land and water conservation.
The Garden Club Federation of Maine
National Garden Clubs, Inc. provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members, to promote the love of gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility.
Good Shepherd Food Bank
In addition to distributing food to Mainers in need, the Food Bank is leading a statewide effort to combat the root causes of hunger by engaging in advocacy, nutrition education, and strategic partnerships. Good Shepherd welcomes you to join in this effort.
Maine Audubon
is a member-based organization that engages people in conservation, education and advocacy to advance wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Maine.
Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets
' mission is to cultivate a vibrant, sustainable farmers' market community as a vital part of Maine's local food network. The Federation works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability.
Maine Gleaning Network
A collaborative farm surplus rescue effort gathering crops from Maine's fields and engaging communities in resourceful and equitable food system activities.
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
The purpose of the Association is to help farmers and gardeners: grow organic food, fiber and other crops; protect the environment; recycle natural resources; increase local food production; support rural communities; and illuminate for consumers the connection between healthful food and environmentally sound farming practices.
The Grange provides opportunities for individuals and families to develop to their highest potential in order to build stronger communities and states, as well as a stronger nation.To inquire about finding a nearby Grange, contact Walter Boomsma at
grange@boomsmaonline.com
Transition Towns
The Transition Movement is comprised of vibrant, grassroots community initiatives that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives differentiate themselves from other sustainability and "environmental" groups by seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self reliance and resilience.
Transition Skowhegan meets every 1st Thursday at 6 pm, Skowhegan Public Library.
Contact Iver Lofving 474-7370 or Jason Tessier 474-4380
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) meets every first Friday at 6 pm, Abbott Memorial Library, Dexter. Contact Sam Brown 277-4221 or email
info@ddatt.org
Wild Seed Project
works to increase the use of [Maine] native plants in all landscape settings in order to conserve biodiversity, encourage plant adaption in the face of climate change, safeguard wildlife habitat, and create pollination and migration corridors for insects and birds. Check out their
Native Plant Blog
.
Maine Agriculture in the Classroom
promotes the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public. Curricula and resources for educators and others working with young people. Check out newsletters and/or subscribe
here
.
Maine Farm to School Network
supports the rapidly spreading farm to school movement in Maine. This network knits together a wide diversity of students, teachers, school nutritionists, parents, farmers and groups who support child nutrition and Maine agriculture.
Search
their resource database,
join
the network.
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Upcoming Events
October 26-
Educate-2-Cultivate (E2C)
: Business Development and Assistive Technology Symposium for Military Veterans in Agriculture, Augusta Armory, 9-3. $20.
FMI and to register
November 2-Craft Fair.
Ridgeview Community School, Dexter. 9a-2p.
November 9-Second Annual Fall Folk Festival.
The Commons at Central Hall, Dover-Foxcroft. 2-7:30pm. $5 person/$10/family.
November 23-24-Maine Harvest Festival
, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor. 10-4 each day. $8/adults.
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Master Gardener Volunteers
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The 2019 growing season/reporting year is over! If you have not yet reported your hours, please do so!
Report my MGV hours
You may also start reporting your hours for 2020-there's lots of prep work to do now and over the winter.
There is also a very brief statewide survey for Master Gardener Volunteers about their experience, due November 4:
MGV Supplemental Report
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Mission
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
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The goal
of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
Quick Links
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Local Weather Anytime
Most outdoor activities are driven by the weather. Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day. They are willing to talk with you about predictions for your town. Give them a call at 492-0180. Or check out their online detailed maps at
http://www.weather.gov/car/.
Need Pesticide Credits?
Interested in Volunteering with UMaine Extension?
Nearly 8,000 volunteers devoted more than 150,000 hours to their communities last year through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension! Look around our
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Kathy Hopkins, Extension Educator
Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant
The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
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Piscataquis County Office
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Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485
Piscataquis County Office -
website
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491
7 County Drive Skowhegan, Maine 04976-4209
Tel: 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine)
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