Polk County Social
Polk County itemizer-Observer • September 13, 2017 9A
Develop good habits from garden to table
As more people pick up a
hoe to grow their own pro-
duce, food safety becomes a
concern.
“Most people can’t believe
that their own habits could
possibly be the source of
problems and are not aware
what habits can cause risk,”
said Jeanne Brandt, a family
and community health ex-
pert with Oregon State Uni-
versity Extension Service.
“We only hear about wide-
spread breakouts of food
poisoning from commercial
distribution. But what we do
in the garden and kitchen
can be problematic.”
Brandt is not out to panic
gardeners. But the risk is
real, especially for children,
the elderly, the sick and
those with compromised
immune systems. Reducing
the chances of foodborne ill-
ness means changing behav-
ior, including better hygiene,
keeping animals out of the
garden and using well-rotted
compost and manures.
Sara Runkel, a food sys-
tems coordinator with OSU
Extension’s Small Farms
program, explains that food-
borne illnesses come from
the digestive tracts of ani-
mals and humans. She notes
that once pathogens come
in contact with produce,
they’re difficult to kill, which
Burns — 50th
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
makes good garden prac-
tices all the more important.
Brandt and Runkel offer
these recommendations:
Attempt to find out how
your garden site was used
before you planted. Consid-
er bringing in soil or using
raised beds if you think the
existing soil has been con-
taminated.
Use potable water if pos-
sible. Runkel points out that
municipal water has practi-
cally no risk of carrying
pathogens. Surface water
has the highest risk. Well
water — which should be
tested once a year — falls in
between.
Wash hands and tools be-
tween working in the soil
and harvesting.
Use separate clippers and
gloves for harvesting and
working in the soil.
Don’t use dirty wheelbar-
rows, buckets or other con-
tainers for harvesting. Keep
a clean container just for
harvest.
Keep animals out of the
garden. Though this may be
https://flic.kr/p/ydxtDs
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, practice good
habits in the garden such as using clean containers for
harvest.
a struggle, it’s important to
eliminate feces. For small
wildlife, clear debris from
around the edge of the gar-
den where they can hide. If
possible, build a fence.
If you make your own
compost, the core tempera-
ture must be maintained be-
tween 131 and 170 degrees
for at least 15 days, turning
the pile five times, in order
to kill pathogens. Bagged or
commercial compost has
been heat treated and is
considered safe. If kitchen
scraps are included in the
compost pile, rats, raccoons
and other wildlife will arrive
for a meal. Barrel com-
posters are good for keeping
animals out.
Don’t let chickens into the
garden. Chicken manure is a
great soil amendment, but
like compost, must sit for 90
to 120 days before applying.
Clean produce with cool,
running water once you’ve
brought it inside.
MI TOWN
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
pus, when coach Arne Fer-
guson and our Wolves will
meet the Lumberjacks from
Humboldt State University
at 1 p.m. We’re looking for-
ward to an exciting year of
college football right here in
MI Town and an opportunity
to have a great time. WOU
football is fun for the entire
family, and an excellent way
to support our community
and to enjoy small college
athletics. There is absolutely
nothing better than a burger
or a hot dog right off the grill,
and a cold drink at a football
game on a gorgeous fall af-
ternoon.
We’re fortunate to have
university and high school
athletic programs right in
our communities, where
everyone can have a good
time, selecting from several
sports on almost any given
afternoon or evening, and
cheer for their favorite team
without driving for miles and
miles, or paying for expen-
sive tickets. Fall sports pro-
grams are now in full swing
and schedules are available
on school web sites.
—
Monday marked the 16th
anniversary of the tragic
events of Sept. 11, 2001,
when thousands of people
were killed or seriously in-
jured when several terrorists
hijacked airplanes, then
crashed into the World Trade
Center in New York City, the
Pentagon in Arlington, Va.,
and near a rural Pennsylva-
nia farming community.
Many people of a certain age
recall President Kennedy’s
assassination (Nov. 22, 1963)
and the bombing of Pearl
Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941), and
remember exactly where
they were and what they
were doing when they heard
the terrible news. Let us
never forget Sept. 11, and
honor all who gave their
lives as well as those brave
men and women who are
fighting for freedom half a
world away.
—
If your backyard garden is
worn and weary and has
nearly succumbed to this
summer’s heat wave, all is
not lost. The Independence
Riverview Farmer’s Market is
now open on Tuesday after-
noons from 2 to 7 p.m., as
well as Saturdays from 9 a.m.
until 2 p.m. Many vendors
have a variety of good things
for sale.
Bob
and
Georgeann Burns
w i l l c e l e b ra t e
their 50th wed-
ding anniversary
on Sept. 16, 2017.
A celebration
will be held on
Sunday from 1 to
4 p.m. at the cou-
ple’s home.
Bob
and
Georgeann mar-
ried in Shell
Beach, Calif. in
1976. They lived
in Pennsylvania and California before moving to Dallas in
1981.
Bob spent many years as a cable television technician
and now works at Walmart building bicycles and furni-
ture.
He also plays Santa Claus at Christmas, sporting his
own snowy, white beard. Georgeann has worked at
Grandma’s Attic Sewing Emporium since it opened. She
spends the majority of her free time with her grandchil-
dren.
Their family includes daughter and son-in-law, Kin and
Lonnie Thurston, of Salem, and son and daughter-in-law,
Brian and Amber Burns, of Perrydale. The couple also has
10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Continued from page 8A
—
TUESDAY, SEPT. 19
• Dallas Wingdingers RC Flying Club — 7 p.m., Whitworth
Elementary School library, 1151 SE Miller Ave., Dallas. 503-623-
7288.
• Polk County Coin Club — 7 p.m., Monmouth Senior Cen-
ter, 180 Warren St. S., Monmouth. 503-362-9123.
• Overeaters Anonymous — noon to 1 p.m., Salem Health
West Valley, 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. Support group
meets in the quiet room/chapel immediately inside the emer-
gency entrance on Clay Street. Dee Ann White, 971-718-6444.
• Independence Riverview Market — 2 to 7 p.m., riverview
Park and Amphitheater, 50 C St., independence. 503-910-8193.
—
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20
• Willamette Valley Food Assistance Program Food Bank
— 1:30 to 6:30 p.m., 888 Monmouth Cutoff road, Building E,
Dallas. Weekly distribution for eligible community members.
503-831-5634.
• Day-2-Day Diabetes Support Group — 3 to 4 p.m., Salem
Health West Valley (main conference room inside main en-
trance), 525 SE Washington St., Dallas. 503-623-7323.
• Pickleball — 9 a.m. to noon, roger Jordan Community
Park. Meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m.
to noon. Karen Freeman, 503-871-4172.
Matinees are all shows
before 6pm. New pricing for
matinees are: Adult $8.00
Children $7.00 • Senior $7.25
Pricing does not reflect
3D showings.
Friday - Saturday • September 15 - 16
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
IT (Digital) (R)
IT (Digital) (R)
LEAP (Digital) (PG)
WIND RIVER (Digital) (R)
ALL SAINTS (Digital) (PG)
WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:40 4:15)
(12:05 2:30 4:55)
(1:35 4:20)
(1:00 4:00)
(11:45 2:00 4:15)
(1:45 4:15)
(1:10)
(3:45)
(1:50 4:30)
6:55 9:35
7:20 9:45
7:05 9:50
6:30 7:00
9:30 10:00
6:50
6:45
9:20
7:10
9:20
9:45
6:55
7:20
7:05
6:30
7:00
Sunday • September 17
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
IT (Digital) (R)
LEAP (Digital) (PG)
WIND RIVER (Digital) (R)
ALL SAINTS (Digital) (PG)
WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:40 4:15)
(12:05 2:30 4:55)
(1:35 4:20)
(1:00 4:00)
(11:45 2:00 4:15)
(1:45 4:15)
(1:10)
(3:45)
(1:50 4:30)
6:50
6:45
7:10
Monday - Thursday • September 18 - 21
HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (Digital) (R)
HOME AGAIN (Digital) (PG13)
MOTHER! (Digital) (R)
IT (Digital) (R)
LEAP (Digital) (PG)
WIND RIVER (Digital) (R)
ALL SAINTS (Digital) (PG)
WONDER WOMAN (Digital) (PG13)
AMERICAN ASSASSIN (Digital) (R)
(1:40 4:15)
(2:30 4:55)
(1:35 4:20)
(1:00 4:00)
(2:00 4:15)
(1:45 4:15)
(1:10)
(3:45)
(1:50 4:30)
6:55
7:20
7:05
6:30
7:00
6:50
6:45
7:10
www.polkio.com
As deadline for this week’s
Itemizer-Observer ap-
proached last weekend,
everyone was so concerned
about the forest fires all over
Oregon and in many west-
ern states as well. Let’s hope
the promised rains have
happened and those brave
women and men working so
hard to protect our forests,
homes and businesses have
been able to get some much-
needed rest and relaxation.
—
Our Western Oregon Uni-
versity Wolves have played
football at Idaho State and
Central Washington, and this
Saturday they will be at
Western New Mexico this
week, so we haven’t had the
opportunity to see any
games this season. Sept. 23
begins another wonderful
home season of football at
McArthur Field on the West-
ern Oregon University cam-
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