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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2012)
Page 6 The INDEPENDENT, July 18, 2012 Can You Dig It? By Schann Nelson Columbia County Master Gardener It’s here – it’s here! It’s final- ly summer! Despite my gloomy predictions we ARE going to have a summer – in fact I’ve heard we will settle into our ‘typical’ summer drought. “Drought?” you say in questioning tone, “How can rainy wet Oregon have a drought?” While I certainly don’t know the mechanics of the weather pattern, I do know that once it well and truly stops raining there is a good likelihood that it won’t rain again for many months. Our cool wet springs have lately disguised the fact that sometimes it does- n’t rain from May to December. This can become a real problem for the gardener. Lack of water will kill all plants eventually. Those grown for vegetables and flowers, or recently planted, are practically defenseless and depend on their long relationship with mankind to provide for their needs. If you have a dry well or a high water bill this may force the gardener into difficult choices of where to spread the short supply of this essential element. Saving wa- ter becomes a major preoccupation. The two best ways I know to conserve the available water are drip irrigation and mulch. Drip irrigation can be as simple as a bucket placed near a much loved or recently transplanted tree, or as complex as an entire system of soakers, drippers and sprayers that all con- nect directly to your water source, or any combination thereof. The vegetable garden will need a good watering of at least one inch per week throughout the rest of the season. Be sure to water in the morning if at all possi- ble to get the maximum advantage. Watering in the evening is another option but a poorer one as the gar- by sun stress. If you choose mechanical means to at- den that is damp at night is a hotel extraordinaire for tempt to rid yourself of stubborn weeds, remember slugs and molds and blights. Try to avoid overhead that it requires continual removal of any growth This- watering, especially of those precious tomatoes, to tles, docks, dandelions, blackberries, etc. require an discourage late blight. Deep, slow watering is the best, extremely stout heart and body to keep them down. A note on pest traps: For the first time in a long time as it encourages root growth. Wilting is a natural re- sponse to dry hot weather especially visible in the my Pantry Moth pest traps are beyond full and I squash family. Even with adequate water every day, a haven’t been able to replace them. The air at night is big squash plant will wilt in order to conserve the wa- filled with little fluttery moths eager to reproduce inside ter it does have. While I don’t think it’s possible to my cupboards and closets. The fruit flies are also a overwater a squash, it may be that your water could pest that I controlled well with pheromone traps last safely be used to sustain other plants without obvious summer. I highly recommend the use of both of these products. I’ve also found fly traps and yellow jacket wilting. Young trees and shrubs, planted this spring or last, traps effective at reducing populations over time. Time to get out and enjoy the weather we wait for will also need a steady supply of water. It takes them at least two years to develop an adequate root sys- all year. There’s nothing like a soft summer evening to tem. This is a great place to use the power of mulch. fill the heart. Nearly anything that covers the ground will work. Be- sides the typical and attractive bark dust or straw, you can also mulch in these outlying areas with dried lawn cuttings, garden weeds dried and not going to seed, newspapers weighed down with something like wood The Rainier Car Show will show running from 10:00 a.m. sawdust or lawn clippings, the stuff you be held July 29 at the Ol’Pas- to 4:00 p.m. Registration the clean out of your gutters (great for cane time Tavern in Rainier. This day of the show is $20. The berries), or anything else that will slowly Classic Car show will be a ben- pre-registration price is $10 decompose and protect the soil surface. If efit for the Columbia County and registration can be done at you can get a soaker hose under your Women’s Resource Center the Ol’Pastime, Hometown Piz- mulch you are saving the maximum za or by calling CCWRC at (CCWRC). amount of water you can. Congratulations! Registration for the show 503-397-7110. Lawns go dormant in the heat of sum- starts at 8:00 a.m. with the mer. When water is in short supply it’s best to just let this happen. It will cut way down on your mowing and make weeds like the false dandelion, so aptly described last month by Chip Bubl in Country Living, eas- Great local agency is seek- available time and talent be- ier to get rid of. Both mechanical and ing one time and ongoing vol- tween August 20 and August chemical removal of weeds are more ef- unteers! The Women’s Re- 29. fective when the weeds are also affected source Center is now recruiting Crisis Line – Formal training Rainier Classic Car Show, July 29 Volunteers can make a difference Church Directory V ERNONIA F OURSQUARE C HURCH C OVENANT C HURCH V ERNONIA P IONEER B APTIST F ELLOWSHIP Carl Pense, Pastor 850 Madison Avenue, Vernonia 503 429-1103 Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School Pastor John D. Murray 359 “A” Street, Vernonia 503 860-3860 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m. John Cahill, Pastor 939 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-1161 www.pbfalive.com Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Thursday Prayer 7:00 p.m. S EVENTH D AY A DVENTIST Larry Gibson, Pastor 2nd Ave. and Nehalem St., Vernonia 503 429-8301 Morning Worship, 11:00 a.m. Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. A SSEMBLY OF G OD Wayne and Maureene Marr 662 Jefferson Ave., Vernonia, 503 429-0373 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 11:00 a.m S T . M ARY ' S C ATHOLIC C HURCH Rev. Luan Tran, Administrator 960 Missouri Avenue, Vernonia 503 429-8841 Mass Sunday 12:00 Noon Religious Educ. Sunday 10:30 a.m. V ERNONIA C OMMUNITY C HURCH Ralph Young, Pastor 957 State Avenue, Vernonia 503 429-6790 Sunday Bible Classes 9:00 a.m. Family Praise & Worship 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Prayer 6:30 p.m. Thursday Ladies Study 7:00 p.m. Nursery 10:15 a.m. Vernonia Community Preschool N EHALEM V ALLEY B IBLE C HURCH Gary Taylor, Pastor Grant & North Streets, Vernonia 503 429-5378 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:45 a.m. Nursery available Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m. V ERNONIA C HRISTIAN C HURCH C HURCH OF J ESUS C HRIST OF L ATTER D AY S AINTS Sam Hough, Minister 410 North Street, Vernonia 503 429-6522 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. (meets in Youth & Family Center) Various Home Group Meetings Marc Farmer, Branch President 1350 E. Knott Street, Vernonia 503 429-7151 Sacrament Meeting, Sunday 10 a.m. Sunday School & Primary 11:20 a.m. Relief Society, Priesthood and Young Women, Sunday 12:10 p.m. one-time volunteers to assist with our annual maintenance. There are also ongoing oppor- tunities to serve on our 24 Hour Crisis Line and our Board of Di- rectors. Volunteers for the Resource Center receive full training and ongoing support. More infor- mation about these opportuni- ties is posted on our website, www.ccwrc.com. The Women’s Resource Center is the only agency of its kind in Columbia County, dedi- cated to serving survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Summer Facility Mainte- nance – Brief orientation pro- vided by the Center. In order to keep our facility safe and func- tioning there is a maintenance closure. Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning, painting, carpentry, landscaping and other repair items. The Center can use your help if you have required, provided by Center. Volunteers carry a cell phone that the crisis line is transferred to from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. weekdays, and from 1:00 p.m. Friday to 8:00 a.m. Monday morning, depending on volun- teer’s schedule. There may be opportunities for work with clients in the office and/or on the telephone (at the Center) when they call in. Board Member – Candi- dates will go through a screen- ing process. The Board of Di- rectors meets monthly and is responsible for the mission, overall direction and policies of the Center. Volunteers are ex- pected to attend a minimum of nine meetings per year and other miscellaneous board functions. Orientation and training are provided. For more information and to request a volunteer application call our office, 503-397-7110 or email volunteer@ccwrc.com.
