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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 2012)
in other words march27 2012 Diggin’ in the Dirt: Raspberry Renewal By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County How large a vegetable garden? Vegetables gardens are fast and furious productions. A typical garden will have plenty of produce for fresh eating and some for preserving. Advanced gardeners look to increase the season by planting fall/winter crops in the late summer. But vegetable gardens take time, especially in the beginning when the weeds are starting to grow. There are estimates that a thousand square foot garden (33’ x 33’) will take about 2 hours per week to water, weed and do other miscellaneous jobs. This does not include harvesting and planting. If you know that you will face a major weed problem, it is better to plant a smaller space that you can maintain than to over- extend and constantly struggle to keep the garden productive. If you are new to vegetable gardening or are mentoring a new gardener, be sure to tell them to use transplants where possible and really focus on weed and slug control as the garden is getting established. The time spent on both tasks in the first month will pay great dividends all summer long. Raspberry renewal Raspberries are wonderful fruit. Sadly, many varieties perish from a root disease aggravated by wet clay soils. The fungus in question is Phytophthora root rot. This disease may move slowly through a planting or may develop q u i c k l y . Raspberries growing on Meeker raspberries. less than ideal soils often don’t last five years. There are some raspberry varieties that show a level of resistance to root rot. These include Meeker (an old favorite), Sumner (most tolerant of clay soils), Cascade Dawn and Delight from WSU, Chilliwack from Canada and Summit, an everbearer with moderate resistance. The everbearer types like Heritage and Anne (a yellow raspberry with excellent flavor) should be tried. Raspberries should not be planted back into the same bed where an earlier planting has died out. Fungal spores will persist and infect new plants. Find another location and move the posts and wire or use the old trellis for beans, peas, or tomatoes for several years. Here is the key: Unless you have very well-drained soil (and so few of us do), raspberries will do best planted on a high crowned raised bed. Research in Washington and confirmed here in commercial plantings argue for a bed that is crowned at 24 inches high and slopes to a four foot wide base. There is some evidence that gypsum incorporated into the bed (about 10#s/100 square feet of bed) will improve raspberry longevity. Plants are available now, so do 7 your planning, bed preparation and soil to secure mates and territory. This can building, trellis construction and get be annoying at 5 am but view it as one those plants in the ground. of the joys of living where the wild things still roam. Don’t hurt these birds. Red-breasted sapsucker They play valuable roles in the forest I get periodic calls about neat ecosystem and human disturbance of ¼ inch holes drilled into tree trunks and their habitat have significantly reduced limbs. Some describe the pattern as like their numbers. a cribbage board. The holes may be on deciduous shade The Extension Service trees, fruit trees offers its programs and or the trunks of materials equally to all some conifers. people. So who is making these holes? It Free newsletter is the local sub- The Oregon State species of the University Extension y e l l o w - b e l l i e d office in Columbia sapsucker known, County publishes a for obvious monthly newsletter on Red-breasted sapsucker. reasons, as the gardening and farming red-breasted sapsucker. Not only does it topics (called County Living) written/ have red breast feathers but is has a bright edited by yours truly. All you need to do red head as well. Not hard to identify if is ask for it and it will be mailed to you. you see one. But they are elusive. Call 503 397-3462 to be put on the list. They drill holes to tap oozing Alternatively, you can find it on the web sap, which they lick with a short-feathery at tongue. Small flying insects attracted to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ the sap also become part of their diet. columbia/ and click on newsletters. Rarely does drilling compromise a tree’s health. Usually, trees close and Contact information for the Extension heal the wounds over time. Heavily office: drilled smaller limbs are most at risk. Oregon State University Extension Some preferred species in my experience Service – Columbia County are apples, pears, birches, maples and 505 N. Columbia River Highway (across medium aged noble firs. from the Legacy clinic) These birds are a delight to have St. Helens, OR 97051 around. They (and flickers and pileated 503 397-3462 woodpeckers) will sometimes hammer Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu away on loose metal or electrical poles Center for Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to Open Ruthann Harris Inman Family Justice Center Is someone in your family hurting? Center is to provide a safe space to meet the multiple needs of domestic violence victims. Human service providers, criminal and civil justice agencies in Columbia County will collaborate to improve access for victims while providing tools to heal and thrive, free from violence. Clients must otherwise travel to multiple agencies to receive the different services that are needed when faced with a violent situation in their home. It is not unusual for an individual to visit a minimum of three different agencies. This “one- stop” model eases the burden of a stressful situation by combining existing community resources. Donations can be made through the St Helens Community Foundation, designating the RAHI Family Justice Center project. Members of the public are invited to an opening celebration at the Community Action Team located at 125 N. 17th St. in St. Helens. 8:00-9:00 AM on Tuesday, April 3. Please note that the Community Action Team does not open its doors to clients until 8:30 AM. ral Path Health Ser ces vi Na tu Local agencies in Columbia County are joining forces to provide services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Ruthann Harris-Inman Family Justice Center will open Tuesday April 3, 2012. in St Helens Victims may receive services every Tuesday morning between the hours of 9:00 AM and noon at the Community Action Team building. Victims may apply for food stamps, housing, create safety plans, and receive assistance with restraining orders and other civil legal needs. This project was spearheaded by Judge Jenefer Stenzel Grant, and is named in memory Ruthann Harris-Inman, a local treatment provider and leader in abuse prevention. The St Helens site is a pilot project which if successful could be replicated elsewhere in the county. The vision of the Ruthann Harris-Inman Dr. Carol McIntyre Naturopathic & Chinese Medicine Owned and Operated by Don & Kim Wallace 503.429.3928 cccmnd@yahoo.com naturalpathhealthservices.com 786 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR, 97064
