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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2017)
8 march16 in other words 2017 Diggin’ in the Dirt: Columbia County 100 Years Ago Take excess produce to the food bank, senior centers, 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 offi ce in Columbia County publishes a monthly newsletter on gar- dening and farming topics (called Coun- try 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 sign up for email notifi cation of when to fi nd the latest edition on the web at http://extension.oregonstate.edu/colum- bia/. Contact information for the Extension offi ce 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 Vernonia Dental D Vernonia’s Voice is published twice each month on the 1st and 3rd Thursday. Look for our next issue out April 6. squirrels). Diking projects along the Co- lumbia River were the highest priority. The Deer Island District was the furthest along in organization and had a detailed plan developed by the Department of Drainage and Irrigation at OAC that would have cost owners within the Dis- trict $40/acre to dike and drain the land. But a month after Howard was hired, the United States entered World War I. All federal help (money, equip- ment, planning, etc.) evaporated along with the labor force to do the work, which went into the army or into defense related industries. All drainage projects were put on hold except for drawing up detailed plans for when the war was over. High feed costs and high meat prices led to the slaughter of low per- forming cattle and the improvement of herds with better genetics. County Agent Howard assisted in the selection of 12 dairy sires, 32 registered dairy cows, and 35 registered hogs. Seed orders were pooled through the Extension offi ce sav- ing farmers $1,100. He communicated through farm visits, offi ce calls, meet- ings, newspaper articles and 1,200 let- ters. D.C. Howard resigned in October, 1919 to manage Ed Cary’s Jersey dairy. He was succeeded by Thomas Flippin Jr. in December, 1919. DM Open A farmer in his alfalfa fi eld near St. Helens Why lady beetles fl y away Lady beetles spend the winter in rock cavities in the mountains. They are collected when they emerge in the spring. The lady beetles are then cooled and sent to garden centers. However, in nature, when the lady beetle emerges, it has a certain amount of fat. Its instinct is to fl y until the fat is largely used up. Then it looks for some aphids to eat. So when you open up the package, they are still fat and they will still fl y away. In addition, there is some concern that collecting for sale may be affecting the native lady beetle population. Buying ladybeetles really doesn’t make much sense. Best ad- vice is to avoid the wide- spread use of insecticides and to plant a diverse bo- tanical landscape. The lady beetles will show up. an Vernonia Veterinary Clinic • Land drainage by diking along the Co- lumbia and tile draining on other pieces of low ground • Livestock improvement through milk cow testing clubs and bringing in pure- bred dairy sires and cows • Silo construction and management • Rodent control (moles, despite the fact that they aren’t rodents, and ground e rm (OAC, now OSU) and started work on March 3, 1917. The logging boom was on (virgin timber stands went from 350,000 acres in 1895 to 50,000 by 1935) Scappoose Bay Watershed Council’s and salmon were an abundant resource Native Plant Sale Saturday, April 15 to be caught and processed. Most people Join the Scappoose Bay Water- made their living directly or indirectly shed Council (SBWC) at their Spring from one of those two industries. Native Plant Sale Saturday, April 15, Farming at that time was most- from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. This is their ly subsistence with dairy semi-annual event to get you ready for and beef cattle providing spring and summer planting. They have signifi cant cash income. lots of new plants at great prices - all There were lush grasslands native to our area. Staff and volunteers along the river that were are available to help chose plants, sug- grazed after winter and gest gardening ideas, and provide infor- spring fl oods receded and mation on establishing and maintaining some less profi table graz- native vegetation. For more information ing on the stump lands in see http://www.scappoosebay-wc.org/ the hills and coast range native-plant-nursery/. valleys. A number of small The Plant Sale is from 9:00 am dairy processors produced to 3:00 pm at the SBWC nursery, lo- milk products for local cated behind Scappoose High School. consumption and for Port- Look for signs – go east on SE High land. School Way and turn into the parking lot Grain, fruit, and between the high school and the school vegetable crops were ball fi eld areas. grown on the non-fl ooding upland “benches” along the Columbia. You Extension in Columbia County began can see where those were by where the 100 years ago railroad is. Everything from Scappoose Mr. D.C. Howard was appointed to Clatskanie on the up-side of the river as fi rst Columbia County Extension didn’t normally fl ood. Agent by Oregon Agricultural College D.C. Howard (he always signed his reports with his initials so I don’t know his fi rst or middle name) be- gan organizing meetings in the 22 (!) separate communities he identifi ed. He found that there were about 1,000 farms. More than half were subsis- Small and Large Animals tence at best with the owners making money in timber and/or fi shing. Of the remaining 500, about 20% farmed less than 10 acres of tillable land, another 20% had less than 20 acres of land, and the remaining 60% had 20-160 acres. Howard and his farm commit- tees came up with the following sets of projects for advancing agriculture in Columbia County: Mon, Wed & Saturday • Land clearing demonstrations 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Demonstration of the value of lime and various fertilizers on crops in the Call for Appointments different areas (503) 429-1612 • Cooperative buying of feed and seed Or 24 hr. Emergency Number (503) 397-6470 • Organize potato growers for market- 700 Weed Ave. Vernonia, OR ing By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County D h . r C r h p o is t M er . h S c eu 622 Bridge Street Vernonia, OR 97064 phone (503) 429-0880 -- fax (503) 429-0881
