Hello friends- Please check out Kate Garland's article "Establishing a Wildflower Garden From Seed" in last month's Maine Home Garden News. The article was not properly linked; I apologize. -Trisha Smith Home Horticulture Community Education Assistant, Piscataquis County
October is the month to...
By Dave Fuller, Agriculture and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional, UMaine Extension Franklin County and Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Piscataquis County
Go leaf-peeping! The State of Maine has a web page devoted to finding fall foliage. You can even sign up to receive weekly foliage updates.
Learn more about Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). "(EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is one of the most serious invasive species threatening our ash resources and forests. All species of ash trees that grow in Maine are susceptible to injury and death by the emerald ash borer. EAB has recently been found in Aroostook Co. and York Co., ME." Please read this News Release or call 207.287.2431 if you purchased an ash tree for planting this summer.
Plant garlic. Garlic should be planted around the last week of October in all of the state except for Aroostook County, which should be planted by October 15. For information on planting garlic (with videos!), refer to Growing Hardneck Garlic in Your Maine Garden . Visit our Maine Seed Garlic Directory to find a listing of some of the suppliers in Maine. Some Maine seed companies and nurseries also carry garlic for planting. Avoid supermarket garlic for planting stock. Have a youngster help you plant garlic. The large cloves are easy to plant and they'll see the garlic up in April!
Plant spring-flowering bulbs. There are hundreds of choices to make among species and varieties. Many are great for naturalizing, some are fragrant. Bonus-daffodils are not preferred by deer! Find more information in The Culture of Spring Flowering Bulbs.
Compost. Start or add to a compost pile with all of the non-diseased plant material coming from your garden and tree leaves. Compost is an important component in a successful garden and is pricey to buy. Refer to Home Composting.
Shop at farmers' markets! The outdoor season is wrapping up. Winter Markets will begin soon; ask your farmers about location changes. Find one near you.
Upcoming Events and Activities-
Do you know of a class, activity, or event that may interest gardeners in Piscataquis, Penobscot, or Somerset Counties? Please forward information to trisha.smith1@maine.edu for possible inclusion in our next newsletter. Check UMaine Extension's calendar for educational opportunities all over the state
October 5-Deadline to register to dispose of obsolete pesticides. To register and learn important information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to the BPC website at thinkfirstspraylast.org or call 207.287.2731.
October 5-Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition-sponsored potluck harvest meal at The Commons at Central Hall, Dover-Foxcroft, 5 pm. Open mic follows at 7.
October 6-7-Maine Forest and Logging Museum Living History Days, Bradley. 10-4 both days. $10 adults/$5 kids 12 and under.
October 13- Fedco Fall Bulb and Plant Sale, Clinton. 9-3. Pick up your order or shop Fedco's surplus inventory for fall planting.
October 13-Cider Making 101-Lecture and demonstration of the process of making hard cider. The Commons at Central Hall, Dover-Foxcroft. $5 suggested donation. 1-3.
October 14-Great Maine Apple Day-MOFGA Education Center, Unity. $2 members/$4 non-members, kids free. Noon-4.
October 27-Preserving the Harvest demonstration by Laurie Bowen of UMaine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County at Dover Cove Farmers' Market, 9-12. Talk to Laurie about scheduling a food preservation class in Piscataquis County!
Avoid Ticks While Enjoying Your Garden
By Griffin Dill, Integrated Pest Management, UMaine Cooperative Extension
Deer Tick, adult female. Photo by Griffin Dill.
While fall is an excellent time to work in the garden, many gardeners may not realize that ticks can still pose a serious threat during these cooler months. Adult deer ticks (
Ixodes scapularis) in particular are especially active during October, November, and even well into December depending on the temperature. Cases of tick-borne illness are increasing in Maine and ticks are being found in more locations, making it important to take precautions to minimize exposure. The deer tick is known to transmit a number of pathogens in Maine, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and a strain of Powassan virus known as deer tick virus.
By Kookie McNerney, Home Horticulture Coordinator UMaine Cooperative Extension Cumberland County
Wild allspice, fever bush, Benjamin bush, and Northern spicebush are but a few of the common names for Lindera benzoin. This native shrub is a member of the Laurel family. Its most common name, Northern spicebush, is a true testament to one of its most appealing characteristics: the sweet and spicy fragrance emitted by the leaves, flowers and yes, even the bark.
Lindera benzoin. Photo credit: R. A. Nonenmacher/Wikimedia Commons.
Yet this is not where the attraction stops. Lindera benzoin is a medium-sized, graceful, deciduous shrub with an open rounded habit, 6-12' high and about as wide. The greenish-yellow flowers are unique in that they have no petals (apetalous) and appear very early, from April to May, making this an excellent substitution for the non-native forsythia. Indeed, sometimes it is referred to as the 'Forsythia of the Wilds.'.
Contact your County Extension office to ask how you can help.
Volunteers are essential to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension achieving its mission to bring University research to people in our communities. Master Gardener Volunteers, 4-H Leaders and advisors, and County Extension Associations are some ways to get involved. Orientation and required trainings are available online. Explore the Cooperative Extension Volunteers page and/or contact your County office to indicate your interest.
Penobscot County 307 Maine Avenue Bangor, ME 04401-4331 Phone: 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine) Piscataquis County 165 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 Phone: 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491 (in Maine) Somerset County 7 County Drive Skowhegan, ME 04976-4209 Phone: 207.474.9622 or 800.287.1495 (in Maine)
Master Gardener Volunteers: Please remember to report your volunteer hours and produce donations! It's important that our county, state, and federal funders know about your efforts and impact in our communities. Choose the link to the online form for the county where you were trained (unless you have made other arrangements):
By Ginny Wright, UMaine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
One day last summer, Master Gardener Volunteers Karen Simpson and Peggy Mansir set to work tackling a large patch of goatsbeard that had overtaken an azalea bed in the historic New England Garden at the Blaine House, the 185-year-old governor's mansion in Augusta. Digging up the bushy clumps of tall, spiky flowers, they soon had company: several of the Blaine House caretakers joined them in the garden to help give the azaleas some breathing room..
By Kathy Savoie, MS, RD, Associate Extension Professor, UMaine Cooperative Extension Cumberland County
Relishes are the perfect complement to add interest to a meal or appetizer. Relishes are made from chopped fruits and/or vegetables cooked to a desired consistency in a spiced vinegar solution. The blending of these ingredients adds a slightly sweet and satisfying savory touch to special dishes or to simply top off a hotdog at a cookout! Either way, relishes are popular and come in many distinctive flavors.
The level of acidity in a relish is as important to safety as it is to taste and texture. When canning, never alter the proportions of vinegar, food, or water in a recipe and use only tested recipes for canning. By using tested recipes and following proper procedures, you can prevent the growth of
Clostridium botulinum, which causes a type of food poisoning that can be fatal (botulism).
There is always a need for quality activities for kids. 4-H is a great way to share your interests and skills with the younger generation. If you're interested in working with youth, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer leader. Learn more about 4-H here, and find out what it takes to be a volunteer.
It's Fair season! There are many opportunities for volunteering with your county's UMaine Extension: help set up or clean up the exhibit hall, evaluate 4-H exhibits, greet and chat with folks interested in Extension's programs. Contact 4-H staff in your county office.
County Extension Association Executive Committees are crucial to the success of Extension in our communities. In partnership with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff, the Executive Committee of each County Extension Association assists with providing input on local educational programming needs, helps hire staff, and oversees the county budget appropriations that support educational Extension programs for county residents.
Read more here, and contact
your county's UMaine Cooperative Extension office.
Shared Earthly Blessings on Route 23 in Dexter (the Ripley Road) is a volunteer run garden producing free fruit and vegetables for seniors. Stop by and check us out the next time you are driving by the gazebo on the hill. See our new permaculture layout and what community gardening can do! Regular work days are Tuesdays and Fridays at 9 am. For more information call John Gornall at 207.924.5232.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension has employment opportunities across the state. Find the list
here.
The Maine Food System, What's That? University of Maine Cooperative Extension helps support, sustain, and grow the $3.9 billion food-based economy in Maine. We are the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. Read more here.
Graphic by Michael Mendoza
If you eat, you are part of the Maine Food System!
You may also be growing food for yourself and/or others, supporting farmers' markets and CSAs, volunteering at food cupboards, community meals, or soup kitchens. If you aren't, we're trying to make it easier for you to get involved.
Organizations that address food insecurity with distributions of free food and meals exist in most communities. Many welcome volunteers as well as donations of food, including fresh garden produce in season. Access to refrigeration and timing of food distributions can limit an organization's ability to accept donations. It is best to contact them first. With this in mind, we aim to provide a comprehensive list of these organizations. Please do not hesitate to email trisha.smith1@maine.edu with additional or corrected information.
The Maine Food Atlasis an interactive mapping project created by the Maine Network of Community Food Councils and the Center for Community GIS. Explore or even contribute-The Maine Food Atlas relies on individuals to submit and update listings.
Click here to see a list of organizations tackling food insecurity in Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties.
Organizations of Interest
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
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.
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is a 2,400 acre nature preserve spanning Pushaw and Dead Streams, Lac d'Or, vast wetlands (including a gently raised bog),
Silver Maple Floodplain Forest, mixed hardwood and evergreen forests. Accessible by canoe and trails.
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 TownsThe 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 Classroompromotes 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.
Mission
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.
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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