Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 18, 2015 9A
Spring is the time for
thinking about fertilizers.
Organic options are a great
way to go.
Organic fertilizers such as
manures, compost or bone
meal are derived directly
from plant or animal
sources, according to Ross
Penhallegon, horticulturist
with the Oregon State Uni-
versity Extension Service. In-
organic fertilizers such as
ammonium sulfate or am-
monium phosphate are
often called commercial or
synthetic fertilizers because
they go through a manufac-
turing process, although
many of them come from
naturally occurring mineral
deposits.
Inorganic fertilizers usual-
ly contain only a few nutri-
ents — generally nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, sul-
fur and sometimes micronu-
trients, either singly or in
combination. These nutri-
ents are in a form readily
available to plants. However,
since they are lost from the
soil quickly, you may have to
fertilize plants several times
during the growing season
unless you use a specially for-
mulated, slow-release type.
Some nutrients, such as
nitrate, are quickly available
for uptake by plant roots,
Penhallegon said. If you
need only a certain element
such as nitrogen and want it
to be quickly available to
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
your plants, an inorganic fer-
tilizer such as ammonium
nitrate might be in order.
Organic fertilizers usually
contain plant nutrients in
low concentrations. Many of
these nutrients have to be
converted into inorganic
forms by soil bacteria and
fungi before plants can use
them, so they typically are
more slowly released, espe-
cially during cold weather
when soil microbes are not
as active.
But organic fertilizers
have advantages. They don’t
make a crust on the soil as
inorganic fertilizers some-
times do. They improve
water movement into the
soil and, in time, add struc-
ture to the soil. Organics
feed beneficial microbes,
making the soil easier to
work. But they may cost
more than chemical, or inor-
ganic, fertilizers because
they are less concentrated,
supplying fewer nutrients
pound for pound.
Since many chemical/in-
organic fertilizers are con-
centrated and very soluble,
it’s easier to apply too much
and damage your plants.
Fresh, non-composted ma-
nure can damage your plants
as well, because some ma-
nure contains harmful
amounts of salts. They can
also be a source of weed
seeds.
Penhallegon has collected
information about the nitro-
gen (N), phosphorus (P) and
potassium (K) content of
many of the organic sub-
stances commonly used as
fertilizer in Oregon. His re-
port, “Values of Organic Fer-
tilizers,” also contains infor-
mation about how quickly
an organic fertilizer releases
available nutrients and a ref-
erence list on organic gar-
dening.
“One of the most difficult
things to determine for an
organic gardener is how
much organic fertilizer to
use, say on 1,000 square feet
of garden,” said Penhalle-
gon. “For a fertilizer with an
N-P-K ratio of 12-11-2, this
means 12 percent is nitro-
gen, 11 percent is phospho-
rus and 2 percent is potassi-
um. In simple terms, this
means each 100-pound bag
of the fertilizer would con-
tain 12 pounds of nitrogen,
11 pounds phosphorus and
2 pounds nitrogen.
“For example, using 12-
11-2 fertilizer, if we knew we
wanted to apply 1 pound of
nitrogen, we would use
1/12th of 100 pounds,” he
said. “This equals about 8
pounds of this fertilizer ap-
plied to get 1 pound of nitro-
gen out there in the soil.”
Blood meal (12.5-1.5-0.6)
releases nutrients over a pe-
riod of two to six weeks.
Burned eggshells (0-.5-.3),
fish emulsion (5-1-1) and
urea (urine) (46-0-0) are the
fastest-acting organic fertil-
izers, lasting only a couple of
weeks.
To boost the nitrogen con-
tent of your soils, apply ni-
trogen-rich urea (42 to 46
percent N), feathers (15 per-
cent N), blood meal (12.5
percent N) or dried blood
(12 percent N).
Organic amendments
highest in phosphorus in-
clude rock phosphate (20 to
33 percent P), bone meal (15
to 27 percent P) and col-
loidal phosphate (17 to 25
percent P). High in potassi-
um are kelp (4 to 13 percent
K), wood ash (3 to 7 percent
K), granite meal (3 to 6 per-
cent K) and greensand (5
percent K).
To make soil less acidic,
gardeners want materials
rich in calcium, including
clamshells, oyster shells,
wood ashes, dolomite and
gypsum (all are at least 30
percent calcium carbonate
or straight calcium).
Many garden centers and
feed stores carry organic fer-
tilizers and amendments for
gardens.
MI TOWN
Springtime has always
been a season of renewal and
a celebration of new life, with
baby lambs romping in fields
and birds building nests for
their little families. Springtime
brings us St. Patrick’s Day cel-
ebrations — where everybody
is Irish for just one day — and
corned beef, cabbage and
songs to sing around the
piano. Easter brings us hope,
joy and the promises of re-
newal of mind and spirit.
Springtime is happy and good
for young and old and every-
one in between.
—
What doesn’t belong in
springtime — or any other
time of year — is meanness
and hatred. It seems there is
an abundance of nastiness
and bad behavior that con-
tinues to crop up nearly
e ve r y w h e re. Fra t e r n i t y
brothers are singing racist
songs that are going viral on
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
the Internet; some church
leaders are screaming hatred
from their pulpits; people
are shooting at each other
and targeting law enforce-
ment officers; politicians are
saying hateful things about
each other; people are talk-
ing about “taking our coun-
try back.” The words and ac-
tions seem to be escalating
faster every day.
People with income from
trust funds complain about
“lazy people” who use food
stamps to feed their families.
(Full disclosure here: Mem-
bers of my family represent
every race, religion, ethnic,
Music from the Redgate Winery Fieldhouse
Saturday
March 21, 1- 4 PM
featuring
Diamondback
$5.00 cover • Must be 21
Food vailable
Tasting fees & glasses of wine $5.00
8175 Buena Vista Road
Independence • 503-428-7115 • www.redgatevineyard.com
and socioeconomic group.
An insult to one is an insult
to somebody I love. I love my
country and believe our na-
tion is strong and true.) I
think that’s pretty represen-
tative of most of us. When
hateful slurs are made, peo-
ple are hurt, and nothing
good comes from any of it.
The anonymity of the In-
ternet has given everyone
the chance to scream, yell
and carry on, and it’s proba-
bly healthy to get it all said to
those who are in agreement
with what we have to say.
After all, we do have First
Amendment rights. What’s
so sad and mean is to hear
vicious words said in the
presence of children or oth-
ers for no other purpose
than to be hateful and hurt-
ful. Wouldn’t it be great to
make springtime resolutions
— to really think about oth-
ers who are different — and
not criticize those who aren’t
like us. We can all do better.
—
The recent change to day-
light saving time is a re-
minder to check your home
smoke alarms. If you haven’t
checked your smoke detec-
tors lately, Polk County Fire
District No. 1 members can
stop by your residence to
change batteries and check
your alarm to be sure it is
working properly. Call 503-
838-1510 during regular
business hours for more in-
formation.
—
See you Thursday for soup
and pie at the Monmouth
Senior Center, 180 S. Warren
St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and
variety of soups and pie will
be served. Cost is a suggested
donation of $3 per bowl of
soup and $2 per slice of pie.
It’s a wonderful way to cele-
brate springtime in MI Town.
West Valley Housing Authority will hold their
Work Session Meeting on Tuesday, March 24,
2015 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at 204 SW Walnut
in Dallas, Oregon. The Regular Meeting will be
held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at
204 SW Walnut in Dallas, Oregon. An Executive
Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 will be held
immediately following the Regular Meeting.
Agenda for the meeting is posted on the Housing
Authority website at www.wvpha.org. The location
for the meeting is handicapped accessible. Please
advise the West Valley Housing Authority if you
need any special accommodations to attend the
meeting. For information, please call 503-623-
8387, TDD 1-800-735-2900.
ENGAGEMENTS
Barnes-Cruickshank
Brooke Bar nes of
Amity and William Tell
Cruickshank of Sheridan
are planning an August
wedding.
The bride-to-be is the
daughter of Doug and
Carla Barnes of Amity.
Her fiancé is the son of
Bryce and Carrie Cruick-
shank of Sheridan.
Brooke, a 2013 gradu-
ate of Perrydale High
School, is a student at
Chemeketa Community
College in McMinnville.
William, a 2014 graduate of Central High School, is a
student at George Fox University in Newberg pursuing his
bachelor’s degree in business management.
The wedding is set for Aug. 1 at William’s grandparents’
home in Dallas.
BIRTHS
Winter
Natalie Marie Winter was born to John and Mandi Win-
ter of Independence at 2:44 p.m. on March 4 at Salem Hos-
pital Family Birth Center.
She weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 20¾ inches
long.
Natalie joins Jason, 19 months.
Grandparents are Jonathan and Jenny Naylor of Inde-
pendence and Carmen Winter of Corvallis.
Great-grandparents are Thomas and Lillian Mont-
gomery of American Fork, Utah, and Paul and Norma Kirk
of Tualatin.
Delsman
Axel David Lynn Delsman was born to Josh Delsman
and Nicole Hale-McKibben of Dallas at 9:15 p.m. on March
6 at Salem Hospital Family Birth Center.
He weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 20 inches long.
Axel is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are David and Bette McKibben of Dallas,
Charlie and Cindy Delsman of Dallas, and Twilla Friesen of
Culdesac, Idaho.
Great-grandparents are Ed and Lavina Friesen of Dallas,
Walt Gibson of Salem, Billie Gibson of Dallas, and Bob and
Carol Delsman of Ashland.
Minahan
Morgan Eben Minahan was born to Nick and Trinity Mi-
nahan of Dallas at 1:54 a.m. on March 7 at Good Samaritan
Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
He weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 21 inches long.
Morgan is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are Terry and Carlotta Hall of Dallas and
Mark and Joni Minahan of Dallas.
Ceja
Ezra Lee Ceja was born to Javier and Cassie Ceja of Dal-
las at 12:27 p.m. on March 10 at Salem Hospital Family
Birth Center.
He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 20 inches
long.
Ezra joins Makaylah, 11, and Xzavier, 2.
Grandparents are Edward Bennett of Dallas, Javier Ceja
of Salem and Tammy Lopes of Salem.
Great-grandparents are Billie Quinton of McMinnville,
Lois Diaz of Buffalo, Mo., and Abel Ceja-Mendez of Mi-
choacan, Mexico.
March 28
10am - 4pm
Pre-Sale $6 9am - 10am
Admission: Adults $4
Kids 10 yrs & under Free
Food Available Polk County Fairgrounds
on site
520 Pacific Hwy W, Rickreall
Dolls, Bears, Books, Toys, Miniatures
& Related Items, Doll Stringing
No Appraisals
Sales Table
Reservation
$32 per table
Arleta Day 503-581-1206
Sally Bradford 503-399-7679
Hwy 22
Rickreall
Salem
★ Polk Co
Fairgrounds
I-5
Here’s the scoop on fertilizers
99W
Polk County Living
RV Space Available
Knights of Columbus
Friday March 20
through Thursday March 26
Matinees are all shows before 6pm.
New pricing for matinees
are: Adult $7.25
Children $6.75
Senior $7.00
Pricing does not reflect
3D showings.
MCFARLAND (Digital) (PG)
(1:10 4:00) 6.50 9:30
GUNMAN (Digital) (R)
(2:00 4:40) 7:20 9:45
DISNEY’S CINDERELLA (Digital) (PG)
(1:30 4:15) 7:00 9:25
INSURGENT (NEC Dolby 2D) (PG13)
(1:05) 6:40
INSURGENT (NEC Dolby 3D) (PG13)
(3:50)
9:20
INSURGENT (Digital 2D) (PG13)
(1:35 4:20) 7:10 9:50
CHAPPIE (Digital) (R)
(1:45 4:30) 7:15 9:55
RUN ALL NIGHT (R)
(1:25 4:05) 6:45 9:10
SECOND BEST EXOTIC
MARIGOLD HOTEL (Digital) (PG)
(1:40 4:25) 7:05 9:35
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St. Thomas Moore Council
Congratulates
the winner of our recent
fund raising raffle event
Reinar Morales of Dallas
has won the
2015 Alaska Fishing Trip
to Pybus Point Lodge
We want to thank the individuals and
businesses that contributed prizes:
American Outdoors • Dallas Animal Clinic
Heidi’s Barber Shop • Gordon Wava
Les Schwab Tires • Murphy’s Grill
Shannon Morgan 31 • Tim’s Automotive
VanDuzer Vineyards • Charlotte & Bill Geary
Dallas Health & Vitality • Ixtapa Restaurant
Mira Mar Restaurant • Platinum Spa
Some Things • Town Barber Shop
Wing & Prayer Alpacas