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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2017)
8 in other words december21 2017 Diggin’ in the Dirt: Winter Water for the Birds By Chip Bubl Oregon State University Extension Service - Columbia County Master Gardener™ class signups being taken The OSU Extension office in Columbia County will be offering the Master Gardener™ training again this spring. The classes will be held on Mon- days from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm for about 10 weeks starting on February 5, 2018. Cost of the program is $95.00 which includes a large resource book. Master Gardeners are responsible for provid- ing volunteer gardening education to the community as partial payback for the training. If interested in the program, call the Extension office at (503) 397- 3462 for an information packet. Online registration is now available at http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/columbia/ master-gardener-volunteer-program .We can also send you an application that you can mail or come into our office to sign up. A gardener wish list • Nice gardening gloves, especially those flexible kinds that rose thorns don’t penetrate or nice-fitting leather gloves. • Knee pads or knee benches for garden- ers to make close work less of a pain. • A well-made spading fork or shovel. • Cast aluminum hand tools or special- ly designed “ergonomic” tools for less muscle strain. • A greenhouse or a good cold frame (could be home-made). • High quality loppers or hand pruners • Gift certificates to garden centers • A soil thermometer is always useful. So are moisture meters with 12-inch probes. • Q Knot reusable cable ties are handy for staking tomatoes or trellises. Get them from a local hardware store. • Manual or electric water timer. This device can be attached to any faucet, and automatically shuts off water after a set amount of time. Get a single or dual model from a hardware store. • Water bubbler with flow control or other interesting sprinklers. • Corona Quick Tool Sharpener. A pocket-sized tool for sharpening prun- ers, shears, blades. • Floating row covers are lightweight blankets to put over vegetables that help capture warmth and protect plants. May be available from the Extension office in February/March. Call us. • A Hori Hori Knife is a transplant knife from Japan, that’s part trowel and part knife. Also, good for dispatching slugs. It is a great tool. • Folding pruning saws are necessary for pruning, also handy for camping or backpacking. Fiskers, Barnel, or Corona are good brands. • LED headlamp is handy tool for gar- dening or locating slugs at night (if you are so inclined). If you have close neigh- bors, warn them of your new hobby. Also good for looking for carpenter ant evidence under your house. • A good Insect, Mushroom, or Weed identification book. Call or email me for FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 • Specialty hamburgers • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go “BIKER FRIENDLY” Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 suggestions. ing shallow puddles or bird baths. The • Support for our Food Bank and other containers should be from one to three local efforts to help those in need. inches deep, preferably with gentle slop- ing sides. The surface of the bath should Keeping Christmas trees fresh This one is simple. It’s the wa- be rough so the birds can get sure foot- ter. If you keep your tree from running ing. Place flat rocks at water’s edge out of water, it will last for a long time to allow birds a place to rest or drink in all but the driest of homes. When you buy your tree, especially if it’s from a from. Make sure cats cannot reach the lot, cut the base at least one inch. Place watering area. Keep water unfrozen by adding the tree in warm water immediately and warm water as needed. There are even don’t ever let the tree go dry. Buy a tree stand with a large water reservoir. In the some birdbath heaters available at spe- first few days inside, the tree will take up cialty stores. Hummingbird feeders can quarts of water. There is little evidence be brought in at night and taken out early that any of the preservatives have much the next morning if temperatures are be- of an impact on the longevity of the tree. low freezing. Adapted from an article by Dan Edge, former Department Chair, OSU Fish Other topics It was exceptionally dry and and Wildlife cold earlier this month. Check outdoor containers for moisture and water as Many Extension publications avail- needed. Also look at plants under eaves. able online Are you putting up salsa, saving They can dry out fast. It is worth not- seeds, or thinking about planting grapes? ing that dry soil in planted containers or under eaves are more likely to show OSU has a large number of its publica- winter cold injury (to both roots and/or tions available for free download. Just tops) than adequately moist ones. That go to https://catalog.extension.oregon- said, you don’t want to overwater them, state.edu/. Click on publications and start exploring. either. Peach leaf curl shows up in the Take excess produce to the food bank, spring but is controlled in the winter (as senior centers, or community meals in now!). This fungal disease causes programs. Cash donations to buy food new leaves in April to crinkle, redden are also greatly appreciated. and often drop off. The spores overwin- ter on peach bark and twigs. As buds The Extension Service offers its pro- begin to swell in late winter, the spores grams and materials equally to all enter through bud scales. Once inside, people. they are protected from sprays and are free to infect the tender pre-emergent Free newsletter leaves. Copper sprays, with a spreader The Oregon State University Extension sticker added, or lime sulfur should be office in Columbia County publishes a applied as often as you can get around to monthly newsletter on gardening and it in December through early February. farming topics (called Country Living) Six sprays are not too many but anything written/edited by yours truly. All you will help. There are a few resistant vari- need to do is ask for it and it will be eties including Frost and Charlotte that mailed to you. Call (503) 397-3462 to do fairly well, especially if planted in a be put on the list. Alternatively, you can sign up for email notification of when location with good air circulation. to find the latest edition on the web at Winter water for the birds http://extension.oregonstate.edu/colum- A lot of us feed birds in the win- bia/. ter. Yet how many of us think to provide Contact information for the Extension those birds with water? As easy sources office of water freeze in cold weather, birds Oregon State University may have trouble finding the water they Extension Service – Columbia County need. Birds use the water not only for 505 N. Columbia River Highway drinking and bathing, but as a source of (across from the Legacy clinic) water-borne foods such as insects and al- St. Helens, OR 97051 gae. (503) 397-3462 Bird lovers can help by provid- Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu Cedar Side Inn Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ladies’ Night every Thursday 6pm-close • Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841 • Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry • Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction • Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements Jim Morrison, Jr. General Contractor CCB# 112057 Ph: (503) 429-0154 MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net Vernonia, OR 97064 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured
