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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1978)
JULY IS, 1978 PAGE 9 COMMUNITY GARDEN GRACES CAMPUS by Cynthia Stowell The corn on the campus was “knee-high by the Fourth of July” but the cool summer may have killed the cantaloupes. Corn and cantaloupes on the campus? A barren plot of ground across from the I.H.S. Clinic has burst forth with a variety of edibles that would cause a vege tarian to lose his cool. From asparagus to zucchini, the-garden is producing nearly forty different kinds of vege tables, some that Mother never even knew about. Three couples with varying shades of green thumbs are collaborating on the “commun ity garden,” capitalizing on Ore gon’s short growing season. The “guru of the garden” is a forester named Ron Wilkinson, whose gardening experience was gathered in South Carolina. ► F F k 1 r l r f ! F There the 290-day season is long enough for two consecutive gar dens. Central Oregon’s 90 days are not even enough to grow one crop of sweet potatoes. But the cooperative garden ers are making those 90 days count. They are already eating broccoli and some of the three varieties of lettuce they planted in May. The tomatoes, ochra and melons may not make it, but their nurturers are philosophical about it. The plants that do thrive will provide more than enough canning and freezing work at harvest time. Wilkinson guessed that about half the crop would be eaten fresh and the other half preserved. Each of the six veggie grow ers puts in a couple of hours of gardening a week, usually in the evening or on weekends since they all work or study full-time. Weeding and watering are the primary chores through the bet ter part of the summer. Most of the hard work was in the spring when the garden was laid out, planted and ferti lized. Many hands made the work lighter but the do-it-your self effort didn’t lighten any one’s wallet noticeably. Wilkinson estimated that the total investment in seeds, ferti lizer, tools and Rototiller rental was $40-45. Not bad for at least a year’s supply of vegetables, fruits and herbs. If you want to learn what kohlrabi is, how a Brussels Sprout grows or what kind of weather an eggplant likes, visit the community garden and talk to the local experts. Their thumbs are getting greener every day. t k r ► Extension Notes:----------------- I l I HAY FOR SALE Harris Farms on Boise Drive in Madras has bluegrass hay for sale, $25 a ton in the field. Call Gary Harris at 475- 6933 or Ken Harris at 475-2865. ‘ GARDEN GURU - Ron Wilkinson is one of six campus residents who have transformed an empty lot into a bountiful community garden. Evenings and weekends are spent weeding and watering the nearly forty kinds of vegetables, fruits and herbs that have grown from seed. CDS Photo LAWNS NEED WATER In the summertime, lawns need water to stay green and healthy. It is better to apply at least one inch of water than to put on smaller amount every day... Generally, you should water the lawn every five to seven days, says Clint Jacks Warm Springs Extension Agent. Measure the amount of water by placing a can near the sprinkler. An inch in the can equals an inch on the lawn. Most lawns can absorb one- quarter inch of water an hour... so plan on letting the sprinkler go for a long time. If you apply the water too fast, it will run-off and be wasted. Morning is the best time to water the lawn. Evaporation is less and water pressure on municipal water systems is usually better. Watering in the morning also reduces the chance of dis eases getting started. EMERGENCY NUMBER FOR POISON ACCIDENTS The Oregon Poison Control and Drug Information Center, located at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, has begun to fill a need long felt by Oregon health professionals and the general public. Here in Warm Springs, if your child has accidently swal lowed a poison or some other potentially harmful substance, you can now dial a toll free number (1-800-452-7165) and re ceive immediate professional advise on what to do for that particular kind of poison. The purpose of the center is to bridge the gap between the time you discover that your child has ingested a poison and the time it takes to get him to a doctor. Fast, accurate informa tion such as this center is offer ing could help both your child and your doctor. Open since January, the Center is staffed around the clock, seven days a week, by nurses, physicians and pharma cists, all specially trained to respond to incoming calls about poisons and drugs. All calls, from physicians and the public alike, will be handled initially by nursing staff who will respond according to specific protocol. If more spe cialized knowledge is required, they will seek direction from the Center’s physician or pharma cist staff. Nursing staff will also make follow-up calls. A Poislndex system which Contains information on thou sands of known poisons and a large selection of reference ma terials will be available to the staff. Medical staff stress that you should always call your doctor or a hospital in the case of a poisoning, but if there is any delay involved in getting medi cal treatment this toll free num ber could offer the difference between life and death for a child. It is suggested that you keep this toll free number (1-800- 452-7165) bv your telephone. WATERING IS CRUCIAL TO VEGETABLE GARDEN With warmer weather and DURING WARM WEATHER less rainfall, watering the vege If watering is in order, apply table garden is crucial to a at least one inch of water. Most successful harvest. “In general, established garden sprinklers deliver about gardens should be watered one-fourth inch of water each thoroughly every five to seven hour, so proper watering takes days,” says Duane Hatch, Ore time. “Turning on the sprinkler gon State University extension for ten minutes or, worse, water home gardening coordinator. Dry topsoil is not neces ing by hand or with a spray sarily a signal to start the nozzle on the end of a hose won’t sprinkler. Examine the soil near do the job,” says Hatch. Place a coffee can where it the plants. Scrape back the soil to get a look below the surface. will catch water from the sprink If the moisture level is within an ler. When an inch accumulates, inch or so of the surface, more you can stop watering. Another measure: when the soil is soak- water is not necessary. ed to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Fréquent light will cause roots to grow near the soil surface, making the roots more susceptible to damage during hot, dry days or when weeding. Early morning is the best time to water. With less wind and lower temperatures evapor ation is kept to a minimum. Moreover, watering early in the day gives the foliage a chance to dry out before cooler nighttime temperatures set in, thus reduc ing the possibility of plant dis ease. CANNING WORKSHOP Canning season is now underway and to help new can ners as well as old-timers the Extension Service is offering a “Canning clinic” on July 20th, at the Madras Senior High Home Ec Room, according to .Jan Pahl, Extension Home Econo mist. Of interest to new canners will be displays of cook books on the market and special canning equipment needed; with United State Department of Agriculture canning, pickling and relishes, and jam and jelly making bulle tins available for hand outs. In addition, slides on canning pro- cedures will be shown and actual demonstrations of canning fruits, vegetables, pickles and relishes will run continually during the afternoon and evening sessions. Of interest to old-timers will be a service of checking pres sure gauges on pressure can ners, which needs to be done each season. Those interested in this free service should remove pressure gauge from lid and bring to the workshop. Highlight will be guest speaker Carolyn Raab, Oregon State University Foods & Nutrition Specialist, at 2-3 p.m. and 6-7 p.m., discussing “Food Safety”, one of the major concerns in the home process of preserving food for later. She will answer questions you may have at the end. If you would like to can this year but don’t understand the process, or are afraid to use a pressure canner, or unsure of which to use; a pressure canner or a water bath method, then join us on July 20th from 1-3:30 p.m. or 5:30-8 p.m. to have your questions answered. Registra tion will be $1.00 with coffee and cookies provided. Door prizes will be given away. Please plan to attend, this will be worth your time. ATTENTION YOUTH- 5th GRADE AND UP The Extension Service is planning two backpack camping trips. Both hikes will be to the high lakes to observe the outdoors for enjoyment. July 29-30 — a two day, one night (Trout Lake, Olallie Lake, Blue Lake.) August 21-24 — a three day, two night (Trout Lake, Olallie Lake, Jude Lake, Blue Lake) Food, tents, sleeping bags and back packs are provided. If you are interested in going on one or both hikes come to the office in the Old Amini- stration Building at least one week before each trip.. Each trip will be limited to 10 people and a cost of $3.00 per person.
