22 Wednesday, April 29, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon GARDENING: Growing an edible garden can boost morale Continued from page 1 innovating, networking with other gardeners and seek- ing out information through classes and local resources. Whether it9s hungry wild- life, frosty mornings, or a lack of knowledge, growers need all the help they can get. Classes are available cover- ing topics like choosing the right plants, soils, protecting plants from a hard freeze and other Central Oregon climate challenges. Luckily, there are many hardy, tenacious folks who have overcome adver- sity and produced a bounty of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Resources abound like the OSU Extension Service guide for grow- ing vegetables in Central Oregon, the Sisters Garden Club, and the nonprofit Seed to Table. Local farms like Rainshadow Organics and Mahonia Gardens have done an amazing job grow- ing in Sisters Country. They provide a wealth of insights and a great source for local produce. Beginning April 30, Audrey Tehan, the executive director of Seed to Table, is offering a four-part series, <Growing Resilience 3 A Deep Dive Course to Turn Central Oregon Gardens into a Food Oasis.= Seed to Table staff will be online answering questions during classes. Tehan offered the class last year and had 10 students. This year over 60 people are enrolled so far. This new gardening trend is affecting veteran growers, sellers, and newbies alike. Tehan says it doesn9t have to be about fear of a food shortage, but more a return to self-reliance and the rewards of fueling your body with the healthiest, freshest produce possible. Getting hands back in the soil can be cathartic, rewarding and even a stress reducer 4 at least until frag- ile plants like tomatoes are frozen overnight. People like Tehan have mastered the skills and strategies to increase chances for a suc- cessful, delicious harvest with enough to share with neighbors or those in need. With increased inter- est, seeds are selling fast, and supplies for some are depleted. Vegetable and herb-starts are selling quickly. Local stores like Locavore in Bend are ask- ing Sisters Country grow- ers to provide more plants daily. Cathy Stadeli of C & C Nursery has seen a big increase too. <Starts are flying out the door!= said Stadeli from their Sisters nursery on South Pine Street. <Vegetables are kind of like toilet paper this year,= said her husband Chad with a laugh. Sisters Country grower Gayle Hoagland has been growing and selling veg- etables, herbs, and flowers for many years. In the past, Hoagland purchased some of her organic starts from a big grower in the Valley. But that wasn9t an option this year. With the grower9s inventory moving out the door as fast as they could grow it, Hoagland had to start more plants from seeds. <They told me demand for their vegetables is up by 500 percent. They can9t keep up with the demand even with 30 greenhouses,= said Hoagland from her Sisters Country operation. Hoagland is doing all she can to keep up with the pan- demic-related demand. <I just started a whole bunch more seeds in my greenhouse. It9s early here to plant much of anything unless you have hardy greens or a greenhouse. My sales are significantly up from last year. I need more help, so Erik is transplanting seeds for the on-going demand. I am part of a Facebook group called Central Oregon Gardener and it9s really growing too. There9s more interest from people new to gardening or the area.= Tehan is excited that peo- ple recognize there9s a lot to learn about gardening. <We9ve gotten away from that in the last few decides with changing lifestyles,= she said. <More people want to regain that skill set. Seed to Table grows 40,000 pounds of food on an acre and a half. You can grow all your salad in containers on your porch. If you have five kale plants, they will keep providing the whole season. Small spaces are powerful in providing food. We live in a desert; we might as well use the water for something edible. People are looking at their spaces differently and getting creative about how to use what they have.= Tehan appreciates the sen- timent of a victory garden. <We are in a trying time and wondering how we9re going to overcome this,= said Tehan. <It9s about keep- ing our families healthy. Minimizing exposure for most involves the necessity of going to the store. It9s also filling our time and minds with productivity. There9s nothing more exciting than watching a seed grow and then preparing a meal with it.= Learn more about Seed to Table on their website, seedtotableoregon.org. Visit the OSU Cascade Extension Service at https://catalog. extension.oregonstate.edu/ em9128; Gayle Hoagland can be reached at gaylehoag land@aol.com. THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS STILL ACTIVE! I have buyers, sellers, recent closings and transactions in escrow…how can I assist with your real estate goals? J Jen McCrystal, Broker 5 541-420-4347 • jen@reedbros.com Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave., Sisters 541-549-6000 | www.reedbros.com Each office independently owned and operated. A Giant Among Realtors Superior Escrow Execution Ultimate Service Buying or Selling your Castle? I have the expertise & experience you need. Ellen Wood, Broker, GRI, ABR ellen.wood@cascadesir.com 541-588-0033 | 290 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters Stop by and visit with Tiana Van Landuyt & Shelley Marsh. 220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180 THE ARENDS & SCOTT REALTY GROUP Discover the Diff erence “There’s no place like home!” Khiva Beckwith - Broker rok ker Phil Arends Principal Broker CORRECTION 541-420-9997 phil.arends@cascadesir.com Licensed in the State of Oregon The raptor featured in the photo on the front page of The Nugget April 22 was incor- rectly identified as a golden eagle. In fact, it is a large red-tailed hawk. Thanks to Sue Tank of Paulina Springs Books for the correction. Chris Scott Broker 541-588-6614 chris.scott@cascadesir.com Licensed in the State of Oregon 541-420-2165 khivarealestate@gmail.com www.khivasellscentraloregon.com Mayfi eld Realty 809 SW Canyon Dr., Redmond O DAY PE N DI N G I N TW S! 69230 TAPIDERO, SISTERS Desirable Tollgate neighborhood home, 1,568 sq. ft. open fl oor plan, updates throughout. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths on .53 acres. Access points to USNF, Tollgate amenities. MLS#202002947 WE HAVE BUYERS, NOT ENOUGH INVENTORY! Call me to list your home today! Sheila Reifschneider, Broker, 541-408-6355 PHOTO BY CEILI CORNELIUS Licensed Broker in Oregon | sheila@reedbros.com Coldwell Banker Reed Bros. Realty 291 W. Cascade Ave. | 541-549-6000 Visit NuggetNews.com or Facebook.com/NuggetNews for breaking news, updates and the