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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2015)
8 in other words january15 2015 Diggin’ in the Dirt: Hot Topics By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County Hot topics for a cold season Start with a garden review. It is easy to forget some of the things that you know you want to change for next year. Take some time to make notes about moving (or removing) plants if they aren’t in the right place, improving paths and walkways, ordering seeds you want to try, etc. With soil so soggy right now, it isn’t a good idea to be working much in the garden. It is too early to start tomato and pepper seeds! Normally, tomatoes should be started about late March to mid-April for Vernonia and peppers sev- eral weeks later. That said, you might consider starting some cabbage family plants (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, arugula, etc.) a little bit later this month for transplant out in late February. Those early transplants will need some protection using hot caps, row covers or plastic cloches until the temperatures start to warm up a bit. If you don’t have a green house, consider building a small cold frame to get your plants started. Here is a brief piece on how to make them: http://hort.uwex.edu/articles/ex- tending-garden-season . An alternate suggestion would be to mark your calendar for Saturday, May 9 th . That is when the Vernonia Community Garden Association is hav- ing their annual plant sale at the Verno- nia School complex. There were a num- ber of vendors with all sorts of plants and garden related items for sale there last year. And the show stopper is always tomato plant sale, with over 20 varieties of organically grown heirloom and other slicers, paste, cherry, and other specialty types. There will be more information in the coming months in the Voice and on flyers that will start appearing in town closer to the event. Wood ash accumulates this time of year for gardeners who use wood stoves. Wood ash can be applied to veg- etable gardens, lawns, and used around roses and other woody plants except acid-loving species like rhododendrons, azaleas, and blueberries. But use them with a light hand. One to three pounds per 100 square feet is plenty. That works out to be about two five-gallon buckets per 1000 square feet of garden. Spread as evenly as possible. Wood ash provides calcium, potassium (lots), and other trace minerals. But too much can affect roots’ capacity to take up other minerals like phosphorus and magnesium. This is the time to re- view the seeds you have left over and make your seed orders for next year. Vegetable and flower seeds have a lim- ited life span. The actual span is deter- mined by both how the seed was stored and the type of seed. For example, on- ion seed is notoriously short-lived (1-2 years), even in the best of storage con- ditions. Other seeds stored cold (the colder, the better) and dry survive longer 3-6 years or more. But survival (mea- sured as germination percentage) isn’t the only measure of seed quality. It turns out the seed vigor, i.e. how well it grows after it germinates decreases faster than the germination rate. So you might have some six-year old seed that will germi- nate (at least some of them) but they may not grow as well as new seed. So, sort through your seed box and don’t be afraid to toss some. Almost every gardener with room for fruit trees dreams of fresh peaches. And almost every gardener here has had their heart broken by peach trees that grow for 2-4 years and then die. They die from either or both peach leaf curl (a fungus) or bacterial canker. There are varieties that are resistant to peach leaf curl (Frost is one that does well here) but so far none that I know of that are resistant to bacterial canker and curl. Still, a curl-resistant variety may be better able to “outgrow” the bacteria so I do recommend only planting those va- rieties. It is also helpful to spray these trees (and other fruit trees as well) with either lime sulfur or copper on as many dry days as you can between now and late February. Also, it is best to prune peach trees (and other stone fruit trees like cherries) in the summer after fruit- ing to slow the spread of the bacteria. The cold weather in early November followed by another cold snap about three weeks later has convinced garlic, which usually doesn’t break ground until mid-January, to emerge and grow. This could be a prob- lem if it gets below 20 degrees or less with no snow cover. It won’t kill the gar- lic but those temperatures can freeze the tops off if the plants aren’t protected by row covers. New tops will come back but the ultimate bulb size will be lower. I have also noticed that slugs seem to be interested in the garlic so I have started baiting them. Fertilize the garlic in Feb- ruary and again in April. Finally, pay attention to the shrubs and plants you have growing un- der the house eves. They can get quite dry. In a cold snap, plants with dry roots are more susceptible to cold injury. type, keep a few things in mind. If you are taking any prescrip- tion medications, doing a cleanse may alter how those medications act in your system. Depending on the drug and its potential side effects, other problems could present while doing a cleanse. Don’t let this deter you from jumping into a healthier new year, but do be sure that you consult with your doctor or oth- er qualified health care provider. Start simple. Increase your wa- ter intake and decrease alcohol and caf- feine intake. Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits and decrease processed foods. Cook your own meals. Use the crock pot! There are many ways to make healthier foods even on a tight schedule. Exercise. This could be as simple as a walk around the block after dinner. Sitting in a chair and using arm weights and leg weights to increase muscle tone and strength. Increasing muscle mass will increase metabolism and decrease adipose (fat) tissue. Vigorous exercise is not always the best way to begin. Breathe. Deep breathing has been proven to increase circulation and reduce stress. We all have stress in our lives. Finding simple and effective ways to reduce stress has a major impact on our well-being. When we have a better overall state of well-being, we create room for other more positive activities. There are many herbals that help with cleansing. I will introduce one to you. This herb is so versatile and is the only herb that one of my eldest herbal teachers would take daily. It is Dande- lion. Dandelion root, leaf and stem are very nourishing. The plant is loaded with vitamins and minerals and acts on the kidney and liver, two of our most impor- tant organs in the process of detoxifying. At the office, I am now offering one hour acupuncture appointments to established patients for a reduced price of $40. This will be helpful for those people who have a more acute treatment protocol in place as well as those who would like to come in more frequently. I hope people will take advantage of this new opportunity. Check in at the office for up- dated pricing and other new develop- ments. I look forward to bringing in a Reiki master and a massage therapist to better serve our community. Qigong is still happening at the Grange, 375 North St. every Friday at 9:30 am. All our wel- come. Hope to see you there. Happy New Year once again! Thank you for joining me~ Be Well. Natural Path to Health: A New Beginning By Dr. Carol McIntyre Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonder- ful holiday season filled with love from family and friends. We certainly enjoyed ours and it was refreshing to spend so much time at home. Spending the day in my new PJs and snuggling with the chil- dren was by far one of the best parts. Every New Year it seems we all feel the need for some sort of cleansing. Whether it be that we begin or complete home projects or vow to focus on our health, there is a feeling that something needs to change. New Year means new beginning. A fresh start. A clean slate. If you do decide to do a cleanse of any FOR TOWING EMERGENCIES IN AND AROUND THE VERNONIA AREA Need more room? Polife and County personnel are required to use a rotation of available providers, UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK for a servife by name. REQUEST TOWING SERVICE FROM See us for the lowest prices GUARANTEED! Debit/Credit now accepted 5x10 $39 10x10 $69 10x20 $99 RV Storage $149 Outside storage available Totally fenced and gated Padlocks Available Shop Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 6:00 Authorized U-Haul Dealer Happy New Year and a Good Garden For All! Donate extra produce to 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/columbia/ and click on newsletters. You can also be sent an email when the newsletter is posted. 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 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 10-5 Tue-Sat 12-4 Sun Red-tailed hawk photo by Charlotte Ganskopp.
