Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 3, 2016 9A
Set seeds on the right path with soil
While you’re battling the
winter blues, make your
own seed-starting mix and
plan for the gardening days
ahead.
Home gardeners can start
vegetable and flower
seedlings indoors from four
to 12 weeks before the last
average spring frost in their
area, which means it’s time
to get started. Making
homemade planting medi-
um can be more economical
than buying a sterile mix at
the store, said Brooke Ed-
munds, a horticulturist with
Oregon State University’s
Extension Service.
A good germinating mix
must be fine and uniform,
yet well-aerated, loose and
free of pests, diseases and
weed seeds, Edmunds said.
It also should be low in fer-
tility and total soluble salts,
yet capable of holding and
moving moisture.
But beware, she warned.
Soil straight from your back-
yard just won’t do the job.
Typical backyard soil is
too compacted, full of weed
seeds and it is not pasteur-
ized, causing seedling dis-
eases and death. Native soil
often does not drain as well
as seedling mixes. And it can
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
develop a crust that pre-
vents seedlings from push-
ing though.
Edmund’s recipe for a
good basic pasteurized
medium for growing
seedlings is a mixture of
one-third pasteurized soil or
compost, one-third sand,
vermiculite or perlite, and
one-third peat moss.
“Many people just use
half peat moss and half per-
lite, vermiculite or sand, and
this combination seems to
work well, too,” she said.
To pasteurize a small
quantity of soil or compost
in an oven, put the slightly
moist soil or compost in a
heat-resistant container or
pan. Cover with a lid or foil.
Place in a 250-degree oven;
check the temperature peri-
odically using a candy or
meat thermometer. When
the mix reaches 180 degrees,
cook for an additional 30
minutes. Avoid overheating
it, as the structure of the soil
PHOTO from Flickr by Joan
A good soil mix for germinating seeds should be fine and
uniform, yet well-aerated, loose and free of pests, dis-
eases and weed seeds.
may be damaged, rendering
it useless as a seedling soil
ingredient.
Mix pasteurized soil or
compost with peat moss.
Add sand, vermiculite or
perlite. All ingredients are
available at most nurseries
and garden stores.
Another task to complete
before the start of seed-sow-
ing is to clean your pots,
trays and flats. After wash-
ing, rinse the containers in a
solution of 1 part chlorine
bleach to 10 parts water to
kill remaining plant disease
microorganisms that could
weaken or kill your tender
young seedlings.
For information about
starting seeds, see Exten-
sion’s publication Propagat-
ing Plants from Seeds.
MI TOWN
We’ve turned the page on
our calendar to the bright
and shiny new month of Feb-
ruary, which brings us
Groundhog Day and St.
Valentine’s Day — two good
reasons to bring laughter and
joy into those often gray win-
ter days. I don’t know if Punx-
sutawney Phil saw his shad-
ow or not, because my dead-
line was before Groundhog
Day, but whether or not we
get six more weeks of winter,
we’ll just hang in there and
take whatever Mother Nature
gives us. Just very thankful we
haven’t had to deal with all
the weather problems in
other sections of the USA.
—
Those green shoots are be-
ginning to make their pres-
ence known in gardens and
flower beds all over MI Town,
which means we can look
forward to tulips and crocus-
es and hyacinths. For those of
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
us who couldn’t wait for out-
door daffodils and tulips or
other springtime flowers to
arrive, potted bulbs and pret-
ty bouquets from MI Town’s
merchants bring so much
cheer into any room. Those
pesky garden weeds seem to
always manage to survive the
winter’s chill, so these occa-
sional rain-free days give us
all an opportunity to get the
garden spaces ready for
planting.
—
How about starting off
your busy Saturday with
breakfast at the Monmouth
Senior Center? Friendly vol-
unteers will be there bright
and early, preparing eggs,
pancakes, sausage and bis-
cuits and gravy. Breakfast will
be served from 8:30 to 10:30
a.m. and the price is right ($6
for adults, $3 for children
younger than 12). Hungry
people of all ages are wel-
come. All proceeds go to the
building fund.
—
Right now, April 15 may
sound far away, but those tax
forms will be due before we
know it. If you need a little
help trying to wade through
the state and federal forms,
contact Sue Teal at 503-838-
5678 at the Monmouth Sen-
ior Center. AARP certified
volunteers will work free with
seniors as well as mid- to
low-income folks, and every-
thing is confidential. This
service is on a by-appoint-
ment only basis, so please
call soon.
—
Those who participated as
both volunteers and recipi-
ents at the Polk County Con-
nect last week tell me that it
was a successful and worthy
event for all. Services were
provided to so many individ-
uals and families who were
connected to resources that
will help to improve their
lives and the lives of others. It
does — indeed — take a vil-
lage to provide good services
to those who need help to
get back on their feet and be-
come more self-sufficient.
Thank you to all who took
the time to bring this worthy
program back for another
year.
—
These dark and rainy
mornings and evenings
make it harder to see — and
be seen. Please use your car
and bicycle lights and be
careful out there.
PEDEE NEWS
Tuesday, Jan. 19, was a
banner day for Betty Forry.
She turned 103 that day. Out
of the house between the
raindrops they went, and off
to Salem for a lovely dinner
at the Olive Garden. She took
a “Tour of Italy” in the com-
pany of her daughter June
and grandson, Patrick. She is
doing well and was delighted
to receive greetings through
email and snail mail.
—
Mike McDowell’s daugh-
ter, Ginger Owens, and Gin-
ger’s husband, Bryant, drove
down from Portland to cele-
brate her 27th birthday with
A RLENE
K OVASH
Columnist
her father in Pedee on Sun-
day. The three had a great
time eating and playing
cards. Mike appreciated that
Bryant came down in spite of
missing two football games
(one good one and one not
so much, according to Paul).
Mike commented at church
that he feels happy to be
alive, as two years ago, he
wasn’t sure he’d make it
through some serious cancer
treatments.
—
Judy Guida celebrated her
husband Sam’s life with a
chili feed for friends and
family on the first anniver-
sary of his death on Friday.
He was toasted and remem-
bered during the evening by
all present. I’ve heard it said
that you die twice — once
when you take your last
breath and then when your
name is said for the last time,
so we intend to keep him
alive for years to come. Sam’s
IMAGINE OUR Communities
without our LOCAL
NEWSPAPER!
Thank the businesses
who advertise in the
Itemizer-Observer
without them...
brother John came from
Houston for the event.
—
Last Sunday, the Kovash
family had their annual
Christmas party at Ixtapa
Fa m i l y R e s t a u r a n t i n
Wilsonville. The 15 of us ate
and exchanged gifts by draw-
ing numbers and choosing a
gift from the pile or stealing
them from someone else,
which is always good for a lot
of laughs. Paul’s brother
John’s family all live in the
Portland suburbs, and Paul’s
family all live in Salem, Airlie,
and Pedee, so it’s a good
meeting place.
ENGAGEMENTS
Vessell-Schmidt
Deaven Skye Vessell
and Kyle Evan Schmidt
of Salem are planning
a March wedding.
The bride-to-be is
the daughter of Jeff
and Jena Vessell of
Dallas. Her fiancé is
the son of Neil and
Christina Schmidt of
Dallas.
Deaven is a 2013
graduate of Dallas
High School. She
earned an associate
degree in education in
2015 from Chemeketa Community College in Salem. She
is attending Western Oregon University to become a
physical education teacher and get her bachelor’s degree
She works at Great Harvest Bread Co. in Salem as a cus-
tomer service representative.
Kyle is a 2012 graduate of Dallas High School and a
2014 graduate of Chemeketa Community College in
Salem with an associate in business. He works at Costco
in Salem as a customer service representative.
The wedding is set for March 13, at Green Villa Barn in
Independence.
BIRTHS
Seick
Kai Freedom Seick was born to Jeremy and Suzanne
Seick of Monmouth at 6:39 a.m. on Jan. 19 at Salem Hos-
pital Family Birth Center.
He weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 20.5 inches
long.
Kai is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are Don and Lynda Carroll of Pahoa,
Hawaii and Marion and Cyndy Seick of Monmouth.
Eisele
Blake Michael George Eisele was born to Matt and
Jenny Eisele of Monmouth at 11:01 a.m. on Jan. 16 at
Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis.
He weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 22 inches
long.
Blake joins Braden, 2.
Grandparents are Jay and Brenda Lemmon of Otis, and
Dennis and Jeanne Eisele of West Linn.
Great-grandmother is Margie Johnson of McMinnville.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 8A
—
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10
• Helping Hands Emergency Food Bank — 10 a.m. to noon,
Monmouth Christian Church, 959 Church St. W., Monmouth.
For eligible community members; available every Wednesday.
541-404-6517.
• Polk County Republican Women — 11:30 a.m., Oak Knoll
Golf Course, 6335 Highway 22, Independence. No-host lunch
available; everyone welcome. 503-623-5759.
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutof Road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Free Blood Pressure Check Clinic — 2 to 3 p.m., West Val-
ley Hospital (surgery admitting area), 525 SE Washington St.,
Dallas. 503-623-7323.
• Monmouth Senior Center Music Jam — 6:30 p.m., Mon-
mouth Senior Center, 180 S. Warren St., Monmouth. Open to
the public; musicians of all types welcome. 503-838-5678.
• Brew and BS: The Old Testament — 7 p.m., St. Thomas
Episcopal Church, 1486 SW Levens St., Dallas. A lecture series
on the Old Testament. Bring brew of choice – cofee, tea, chai,
beer, wine, cider. 435-503-4304.
• Dallas American Legion Post No. 20 — 7 p.m., Academy
Building, Room 108, 182 SW Academy St., Dallas. 503-831-3971.
Why go to Salem for a
Great Haircut?
We’ll take competitors coupons/offers!
$
2 OFF
YOUR NEXT HAIRCUT!
• Convenient • Comfortable
• Friendly!
Offer expires 3/31/16
Make your
Valentine’s
Hair Appt.
today!
$14 Haircut
$12
Senior/Child
______________
Walk-ins
Welcome
______________
No Appointment
Necessary!
______________
Open 7 Days
a Week!
______________
503-838-0008
1331 Monmouth St., Independence
• Cuts • Colors
• Perms
We carry
Central Plaza
Interested in advertising?
Call 503-623-2373
Visit us online at: www.polkio.com