The Green Thumb
news & updates
for Polk County Master Gardeners
Updated MG Logo
"The mission of the Polk County Master Gardeners is to provide current, research-based, home horticulture information and education to the residents of Iowa through ISU Extension programs and projects".
October 2022
In this issue:
Continuing Education Opportunities:
Greetings! Polk County Master Gardeners are looking for a few dedicated volunteers who want to make a difference by becoming an Advisory Council Representative. We need talented and energetic individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience to help guide the future of the PCMG program. Applications due by November 3rd. Learn About Open Positions HERE.
Interested in applying for the Advisory Council but need more information? If so, select YES
Yes
No
Harvest Celebration
Oct. 11th 6-8 p.m.
will take place at the extension office. More
Mark Your Calendars for the Volunteer Fair-
Oct 25th at 6 p.m.

Be sure your projects will be represented at the Volunteer Fair on October 25th. Please contact Stephanie via email if you would like a table for your garden or project! Let's reach out to the trainees and give them a warm welcome!
Mark Your Calendars- Advisory Council Transition Dates to Know!
Reimagining PCMG; Past, Present, and Future
If you have questions about the transition form Steering Committee to Advisory Council please attend one of the following Q & A sessions. Paul Gibbins, Regional Director, will host three Reimagining Session to share more about the recommendations and trends leading up to this point.
  • October 6, in person 3:30-4:30 p.m. Polk County Extension Office, 1625 Adventureland Dr. Ste A, Altoona
  • October 18, in person 9:30-10:30 a.m. Polk County Extension Office, 1625 Adventureland Dr. Ste A, Altoona
  • October 19, virtual via Zoom 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please click this URL to start or join. https://iastate.zoom.us/j/91620286924?pwd=VjZRZ2RobXM2M2dKRVNaaUl4L2k1QT09 Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 916 2028 6924 and password: 085362 Join from dial-in phone line: Dial: +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 916 2028 6924 Participant ID: Shown after joining the meeting
  • October 4th- Advisory Council Applications open online.
  • November 4th- Advisory Council Applications close online.
  • November 11th- Voting for Advisory Council opens online.
  • November 15th- 6 p.m. @ Extension Office- Plant Swap social event and voting in person.
  • November 18th- Voting online closes.
  • January 1st. - New Advisory Council goes into effect.
Project Updates
Downtown Farmers' Market

Polk County Master Gardeners made our fourth appearance of the season at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on September 10. We featured information on fall bulbs, tree planting, fall blooming perennials, and related topics. As always, we also answered lots of gardening questions.
 
Unfortunately, for the first time in many years, we also faced a mid-morning rain deluge that led us to call a halt to our efforts about 90 minutes before the Market ended. Our faithful volunteers carefully packed up all our publications and demo items despite the rain, and we all got soaked in the process. We’re hoping for better conditions for October 29, our next and final Market date this year!
 
Please let us know if you have ideas for a gardening or plant topic that we should feature at the Downtown Farmers’ Market. And special thanks to all the volunteers who have staffed our booth over the course of the season.
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Thank you, Matt DorĂ©, Sherri Soich & Randy Campbell (co-chairs)
Demonstration Garden
Rather than photos of the fall apple harvest, this months Demonstration Garden photos reflect how many of us share with wildlife. At the Demo garden we are routinely battling the four legged pests of chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits and deer. This year the squirrels had fun with winter squash and pumpkins. As frustrating as it may be, it is all a lesson in sharing.
  • October Focus: weeding, watering, harvesting late season vegetables and apples. 
  • Monday work nights continue until all fruits and vegetables have been harvested. Start time 5 p.m., join us when you can. 
  • Record Harvest: Over 1000 lbs. of fruit and 1200 lbs. of vegetables to the area food pantry. It is looking like a record breaking year!   
  • Saturday, October 15th is our scheduled fall clean up date. The following week the 22nd would be our rain date. We will remove annuals weeds etc. but leave coneflower, rudbeckia, etc. for our beneficial insects and flower seeds for the birds during colder months

Apple harvesting will continue throughout the month of October as most of our trees are mid to late season producers. If you have a long handled picker we could use your assistance in harvesting the trees. This is a task that can be done in small groups or on your own so please contact a co-chair if you need information on which trees are ready and how to pick. Apples do not need to be perfect for donation, we simply ask no brown rot. All fruit is rinsed and dried before bagging and delivery. A huge thank you to all those who helped keep them off the ground! 
 
Planning for 2022 will be starting soon. If you are interested in forming a team and managing a bed please contact a co-chair. Several opportunities are available to match your talent whether it be digging in the dirt, designing, managing events, etc.

Thank you to all our volunteers and the difference you are making both at the Demonstration Garden and in our community.
Discovery Garden
Discovery Garden work nights are Wednesdays at 4 p.m. till dark. Clean up dates are TBD based on when the fairgrounds water will be turned off. Contact a co-chair for more information if you would like to help. In other news, DG recently purchased a new sculpture for the garden. They were also featured in a very cool you tube video posted by Just Add Water- see below .
Enabling Garden: October Tips & More
Woman working in garden weeding out prickly lettuce.
Did you know? Weeding is even more important in the fall than during the rest of the season. Many weeds develop seed heads in late summer and fall. Never let weeds remain in your garden, even if frost has killed your flowers and vegetables. The more you weed now, the less you’ll have to do next spring and summer.

Feeding the Hungry: To all who have contributed time and effort in the vegetable garden, we say thank you. To date 1,130 lbs. have been contributed to Caring Hands food pantry. 

Hands holding enriched soil.
Amending your soil...
in Autumn can be done by adding compost, rotted manure, etc. The more organic matter you add the better, An extra special contribution is being provided this year to improve soil at Enabling garden on Saturday morning, October. 15. Plan to take advantage of this highly prized fertilizer. If you’re interested, yet unable to be there on that date, please contact one of the chairs.  

gardener adds mulch around base of yellow zinnias.
Use Mulch: One of the best ways to keep young plants alive over the winter is to cover them with mulch, especially the first year after planting. Spread a 4 to 6 inch layer of shredded leaves, bark, or straw over the crown of the plant to protect it from freeze and thaw cycles. In the early spring, just as the plants break dormancy, gently rake the mulch away and spread it throughout your bed to keep weeds at bay during the summer.
Find the Pumpkins!
It happened on a mid-September work night. Three big, beautiful pumpkins appeared, standing tall and proud among the flowers. I can visualize grandparents adding a garden visit to their list of ‘things to see and do’ with grandchildren. Credit goes to our very own Darin and Deanna Bennigsdorf, Debbie Hamlin and her father, Gary Acres. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Many visitors are sure to be pleasantly surprised by this work of art. 


  • Clean Up Dates: Saturday Oct. 15th 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and Tuesday Oct.18th 4 p.m. to dark.
  • End of Year Celebration: Thursday October 27th 6-8 p.m. in meeting room of the Bondurant Library. Discussion will be on project updates, review of 2022, spring 2023 plans, & more.
"Let’s be honest: You can’t celebrate fall without its leading role—the pumpkin."  ~Rachel Hollis.  
Notes from the Garden Mailbox:
  1. Can you put more tp’s (tepees) in the garden? I like the one that you already have but i want more because today a family was there and i waited a long time so please make more. I love your garden. 
  2. A small place of Beautiful in this Big crazy world! 
  3. Crown jewel of the Altoona trail system.  
AUTUMN NOTES: â€œWinter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” ~Stanley Horowitz. If you only come to the garden with a to-do list, you might be missing out. Visit the garden and do a walk through alone or with a friend. With cooler days, some intermittent rain, and low humidity, the annuals are vibrant and lush with color. Leave the gloves at home, do not touch a tool, let the hoses hang in place. Sit on a bench, swing in the porch swing, or pull up a chair in front of the bubble rock. Watch birds, bees, butterflies, waving grasses, and people. If possible, approach a visitor; let them know you’re a volunteer and ask him/her if they have any questions.
Outreach Opportunities
Tricks for Trees at the Greater Botanical Gardens on Saturday Oct. 29th 2022. Looking for Polk County Master Gardeners to share their knowledge.
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens is hosting a Trick or Trees on Oct., 29th. If you can help with the table for an hour or two and talk to folks about our mission, our gardens, and answer their home horticulture questions SIGN UP HERE. We will have some lawn alternative materials, monarchs & milkweed pods, and something for kids on the Life Cycle of the Pumpkin. If you would like to help sign up below.
Boy in baseball cap planting seeds in an undeveloped garden plot.
Moore Elementary is in need of help and guidance for their student garden. They are looking for master gardeners interested in working with their student garden club in the spring and possibly to start this fall. You will assist with developing lesson plans for next season. The garden club is held after school on Tuesdays from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m. starting on Sept. 20th. Interested? Click for more information or contact Mellissa Nordell Earp.

Catholic Charites food pantry on Hubble is looking for two Master Gardeners or a small MG team to help them improve and advise them on planting and improving production in their small community garden on site. If interested contact: Tom Leto
Continuing Education Opportunities
Program Committee
Mark your calendars! Programming for fall/winter is scheduled!

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 - Kathy Woida on Iowa Soil- Register Here (free)
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 - Tivon Feeley
Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 - Dr. Thomas Rosburg
Thursday, March 23, 2023 - Aaron Steil
April 2023, date TBD - Megan Will

Oct 11th- Iowa Soils- Kathy Woida
Oct 15th- Wild Landscapes-DM Botanical Gardens Annual Symposium
Oct. 26th 7 p.m.- Spooky Plants- webinar
Nov. 2nd 6 p.m.- Floral Arranging (Dallas Co.)
Nov. 9th 7 p.m.- Native Seed Saving- Webinar
About
Polk County Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources programs aim to help all Iowans, from the home hobbyist to the ag professional, make informed decisions through research-based education. Some programs and focus areas include farm management education, technical expertise for crops, livestock and pests, as well as our Polk County Master Gardener volunteer program; our signature horticulture education program. Our work supports clean water and healthy habitats, profitable farms, and a more secure food system.



Contact

Stephanie Harrington
Natural Resources Program Coordinator
ISU Extension and Outreach, Polk County
(515) 957-5768
sharring@iastate.edu