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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2014)
6 in other words april17 2014 On the Shelves: What’s Happening at the Vernonia Library By Jennifer Moloney Ball games, yard work, cleaning, and sun mixed with rain…….spring must be here! This time of year we tend to get very busy but we all need a break once in a while. Why not swing by the Vernonia Public Library and enjoy one of our free events? Thursday, April 17 th : 3:45 – 5:15ish Everyone is welcome to come on down and learn/play a fun game of chess! All ages are welcome and we have more than a dozen sets available for your use. Monday, April 21 st : 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Stories and craft for your preschoolers! Tuesday, April 22 nd : 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Stories, snacks, and craft/activity for elementary school age students. Tuesday, April 22 nd : 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM “The onset of World War II found Oregonians still reeling from the Depression. But Oregon emerged from the war with a thriving economy, fast- growing cities and a changed population. Seventeen Oregonians describe what happened – on the battlefield and at home – in Oregon At War. Join us in viewing this Oregon Experience documentary followed by discussion on the topic. Light refreshments will be served. This program is made possible by a generous donation from the Vernonia Lions Club. Thursday, April 24 th : 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Come on down and express your creativity with Legos! Lego Club is open to all. Saturday, April 26 th : 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Oregon Humanities Conversation Project “We Are What We Eat: Connecting Food and Citizenship.” Oregon is famous for its food – for its long traditions in agriculture and fisheries, and also for its role in the movement to promote whole foods in communities, schools, and home kitchens. In addition to the daily practice of cooking and eating, many Oregonians also think, talk, and write about food. Might our relationship to food production, preparation, and consumption create deeper connections to our place and our neighbors and a pathway to increased self-sufficiency? Join us for this free program led by Wendy Willis and sponsored by Oregon Humanities. Monday, April 28 th : 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Stories and craft for your preschoolers! Monday, April 28th: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM book discussion - Remembering Ray: A Composite Biography of Raymond Carver by William L. Stull and Maureen P. Carroll. Tuesday, April 29th: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Stories, snacks, and craft/activity for elementary school age students. Thursday, May 1st: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Stamp Club for all ages. We are talking about postage stamps! Sift through the treasure chest of stamps we have and learn about stamp collecting. Monday, May 5th: 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Stories and craft for your preschoolers! Tuesday, May 6th: 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Stories, snacks, and craft/activity for elementary school age students. Wednesday, May 7th: 2014 Oregon Reads Kick-Off! Join us in celebrating with local resident, Kala Cota, on her recent publication of a beautiful poem in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias. This book will be available for purchase during this event and all proceeds will be donated to the Vernonia Public Library. The funds will be used to create a memory garden and beautify the outdoor area of the library grounds, in honor of Kala’s mother, Faye Millis Sword, who is battling Alzheimer’s. Would you like to order a book (signed by Kala of course)? Contact the Vernonia Public Library at 503-429-1818, library@ vernonia-or.gov, or stop by the library to get your name on the list. This is not required but will help ensure there are enough books available for everyone. If you are unable to pick up your copy of the book at the library don’t hesitate to contact us for arrangements. We can even mail you a copy! This open house event will be from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Stop by to purchase your copy of the book, read beautiful poetry, visit with Kala Cota, and enjoy light refreshments. There is something for everyone to enjoy at the library. We hope to see you soon! garden related items from local and re- gional vendors. Note the posters going up around town and watch the Vernonia Voice for more information. Frost and Vernonia Average frost dates are a rolling average of the last 40 years. That said, they are just averages and cannot with certainty predict a last or first frost date in any given year. But they are helpful in planning your cycles of planting and transplanting. So here is the data I have for Vernonia: Average last spring 32-de- gree frost = 5/15; First fall 32-degree frost = 10/5. These are the dates for St. Helens: last 32-degree frost = 4/20; first fall 32-degree frost = 10/31. As you can see, St. Helens (and the greater Port- land metro area) has quite a few more days between frosts compared to Ver- nonia. For the so-called “killing frosts” of 28-degrees, move back the calendar about 18 days in the spring and forward about 15 days in the fall for both loca- tions. If you are in a frost pocket, all bets are off. Many vegetables tolerate a sig- nificant amount of frost. Some of these hardy types are chard, spinach, peas, some lettuce, onions, garlic, and most of the cabbage family. Our subtropical vegetables like peppers, eggplant, to- matoes, basil, cucumbers and squash, and the like will not survive a 28-degree frost and most check out at 32 degrees as well. So for them, frost protection is crucial if you are planting or transplant- ing outside in May to take advantage of the sun of longer days. Frost-protective structures include cloches (hoops of ei- ther wire or pipe covered in plastic), hot caps, floating row covers (see below), and others. Row covers available again The local interest in row covers continues to grow. Row covers are made from a gauzy fabric. We buy a six-foot width roll of 1000 feet long. We then cut the roll in lengths of 50 or 100 feet. Row covers are used in vegetable production on farms and home gardens. This year, we are buying a heavier weight cover, 1 oz versus .5 oz as in the past. It should be a lot more durable and more warming to our transplants and seedlings. Row covers increase tempera- tures around transplants and growing plants by 4-6 degrees during the day and 3-4 degrees at night. This is valuable heat in the spring and fall. Soils warm with the covers but don’t crust, so seed emergence is faster and more even. Seeds planted under row covers aren’t seen by crows. Covers can be left with enough slack so that broccoli-sized plants can grow tall underneath them. You can also attach the cover to wire or plastic pipe hoops. Covers can keep insects like carrot rust flies and cabbage root maggots off your crops. However, slugs and weeds also prosper under cov- ers so slug controls and persistent weed- ing is needed. Last year we could not get the covers but two years ago, we sold, in 50 or 100 foot pieces, about a mile of cover. Cost this year will be $20 for a 6 x 100’ piece or $10 for a 50’ one. You can cut them down further to fit your gardening needs. Call the Extension office (503 397-3462) if you want some. It went fast the last year we sold them. Plant an extra row for the food bank, senior center, or community meals programs. Cash donations to buy food are also greatly appreciated. The Extension Service offers its pro- grams and materials equally to all people. Free newsletter The Oregon State University Extension office in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gar- dening and farming topics (called Coun- ty Living) written/edited by yours truly. All you need to do is ask for it and it will be mailed to you. Call 503 397-3462 to be put on the list. Alternatively, you can find it on the web at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/colum- bia/ and click on newsletters. Diggin’ in the Dirt: Frost and Vernonia By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County OSU Master Gardener’s Spring Gar- den Fair: St. Helens, Saturday, April 26th The OSU/Columbia County Master Gardener’s™ Spring Garden Fair at St. Helens High School Com- mons, 2375 Gable Rd St Helens, OR, will be held on April 26 from 9:00AM – 3:00 PM. The OSU Master Gardeners™ will sell 5,000 tomatoes in more than 30 varieties for only $1.50 per plant, pro- vide tomato and general gardening infor- mation, offer raffle tickets with hourly prize drawings, and have a number of educational displays. There will also be dozens of local vendors offering garden related products. Please carpool if at all possible. Watch for the Vernonia Community Garden Group’s Spring Garden Fair on May 10th! The Vernonia Community Gar- den Group will be putting on their own Spring Garden Fair at the Vernonia High School on Saturday, May 10th. There will be 1000 tomato plants for sale as well as other garden plants and 291 A Street Need more room? call Kim See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Lovable service at a reasonable price • Bathing • Haircuts • Nail Clipping • Nail Polishing • Specialty Shampoos Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks Available Authorized U-Haul Dealer Boxes and Supplies Available We can make your reservation Pick up here or anywhere 58605 Nehalem Hwy South • P.O. Box 292 Vernonia, Oregon 97064 (503) 429-7867 10-6 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun Contact information for the Extension office Oregon State University Extension Ser- vice – Columbia County 505 N. Columbia River Highway (across from the Legacy clinic) St. Helens, OR 97051 503 397-3462 Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu
