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About Applegater. (Jacksonville, OR) 2008-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2012)
4 Winter 2012 Applegater Upper Applegate Grange gets a new name by jANiS MOhR-tiptON The new name for the Grange on Upper Applegate Road has been officially accepted by the National Grange—it is being rechartered as the Applegate Valley Community Grange (AVCG) #839. This reflects the greater region of the Applegate Valley that we serve in Jackson County. The members of AVCG have been busy over the summer with reorganizing, cleaning, and preparing this wonderful 1950s building for meetings, rentals, and community gatherings. We are currently working on establishing a website for easy access with the community. There are many exciting goals being formulated for building the organization and serving the community. The membership has already begun offering community service with a public meeting place provided for the Fort Complex Fire in August. Presently, AVCG is sponsoring a “Warm Clothing Drive” for our local neighbors in need of warm coats, blankets, sleeping bags, scarves, hats, and gloves. Ruch Country Store is providing a drop-off. For more information, contact Arlene Aron at 541-951-6707. On November 4, the members of AVCG had their first community-wide Harvest Brunch fundraiser where 250 people attended a delicious breakfast prepared with food supplied by Applegate Valley organic farmers, ranchers, and food artisans. The Turner Moore Band that sprouted from the Jacksonville area provided catchy rhythms to floor-stomping music throughout the event. Danny Moore, who provided guitar and vocals, spent time growing up in the Applegate Valley. All the rest of the members grew up with down-to-earth ethics as well, and combined forces to create their unique band. They handed out free stickers with their new website, so follow this new local band at www.turnermooreband.com. The “Put ’Em Up” Preservation Contest was a real success with two simple categories: “Savory” and “Sweet.” The community and Grange members brought their finest to offer: jams, salsas, canned fruits, and herbed vinegar—anything that was preserved for winter keeping. The winners were Rosie Demmin for pear Two-hundred fifty people attended the Applegate Valley Community Grange’s first community-wide Harvest Brunch on November 4. The Turner Moore Band entertained. (Photo by Claude Aron.) chutney (savory), and Martha Straube for red pepper jelly (sweet). One Grange member organized a “Gratitude” table where seeds, produce, and prepared foods were offered as gifts to those who came to the event. The members of the AVCG invite you to join us to continue to expand our presence as a vibrant hub that educates, serves, and supports our community. Membership is open to any resident in the Applegate Valley over the age of 13 years, 6 months. You can use your skills for personal and community growth, or developing new skills. You’ll meet other members of the community, and join them in service and fun. You can participate in charitable fundraising and learn about legislative work to support rural farming and sustainability. Come help us grow! For more information, contact Master Melissa Matthewson at applegategrange@gmail. com or 541-846-6297, or Secretary Janis Mohr-Tipton at janismohrtipton@jeffnet. org or 541-846-7501. Janis Mohr-Tipton • 541-846-7501 janismohrtipton@jeffnet.org Funny cone-like things sticking out of the ground If you’ve spent time in the woods in southern Oregon, you’ve probably run into these brown or purple-colored cone- like organisms protruding from the forest floor or a nearby road cut. Many have wondered what these strange items are… cones from trees? Plants? Actually, they are plants—parasitic plants to be exact. The California ground cone (Boschniakia strobilacea) is a member of the broomrape family that parasitizes the roots of nearby madrone trees and manzanita shrubs. Because it’s a parasite, it doesn’t make its own energy and thus does not have green leaves. But it does have flowers. These stick out from the bracts in spring. The bracts look very similar to cone scales from a conifer tree, hence the name ground “cone.” There is another ground-cone species found near the coast and farther north that is parasitic on salal. Ground cones do not have roots— instead they have haustoria, root-like organs that penetrate the roots of their host. True and dwarf mistletoe plants also have haustoria. To the best of my knowledge, ground cones do not represent a significant threat to the health of their hosts. Max Bennett 541-776-7371 x221 Forestry/Natural Resources Agent Oregon Sate University Extension Service Jackson-Josephine Counties max.bennett@oregonstate.edu This article is reprinted from http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/groundcone. Top photo: Ground cone in flowering state (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/- eq5XHDWTer4BisRtats8A). Right photo: Ground cone found in southern Oregon (http://www.redorbit.com/ education/reference_library/science_1/ plants/1112564818/bost2/). Poetry Corner Now Winter Nights Enlarge by Thomas Campion (1567 - 1620) Now winter nights enlarge This number of their hours; And clouds their storms discharge Upon the airy towers. Let now the chimneys blaze And cups o’erflow with wine, Let well-tuned words amaze With harmony divine. Now yellow waxen lights Shall wait on honey love While youthful revels, masques, and courtly sights Sleep’s leaden spells remove. This time doth well dispense With lovers’ long discourse; Much speech hath some defense, Though beauty no remorse. All do not all things well: Some measures comely tread, Some knotted riddles tell, Some poems smoothly read. The summer hath his joys, And winter his delights; Though love and all his pleasures are but toys They shorten tedious nights.
