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.
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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.
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Extension Notes:-----------------
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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.