Connecting Community with Food and Gardening

Connecting Community with Food and Gardening.

Connecting Community with Food and Gardening

Pat Bears was raised by an English grandmother who fussed over flowers. When she was growing up, special occasions were marked by gifts of peonies. The rambling Dorothy Perkins roses grown by her grandmother continue to be one of her favorites. Happiness and gardening were intertwined.

Pat grew up in the coastal town of Brooksville influenced by the presence of Scott and Helen Nearing and their philosophies of rural self-sufficiency and simple living. Garden gurus, Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman further inspired Pat to connect community with food and gardening.

When Pat’s children were young, they participated in Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV), a charitable, independent, non-political, volunteer organization promoting peace, education and cross-cultural friendship. When Pat and her husband, Doug, hosted children from other cultures and countries in their home, they realized some of the vegetables they served were unfamiliar to their guests. The idea for a demonstration garden was born. Host families throughout the region now use the CISV Garden located in Orono as a means of educating children about local food. In addition, the food harvested is donated to area homeless shelters.

The CISV Garden is located near the Orono Senior Center where there’s an after-school program five days a week. Pat regularly interacted with the children in the after-school program who were interested in gardening the activities the CISV Garden.

Community-minded, Pat Bears recognized another opportunity to link children with food and gardening. Every Tuesday during the school year, Pat coordinates a farm-to-table program called the Gardening and Cooking Club (GACC) for 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students with the Orono Parks and Recreation Department. GACC is an experiential learning program. Children are exposed to organic gardening methods and learn how to make healthy choices at the table. They use the USDA My Plate model for nutrition education and introduce the children to “eating local, eating in-season and eating well.”

The gardens consist of six raised beds for growing vegetables, four beds for flowers, two smaller beds for herbs, two rain barrels and several trellises for vertical growing. Food grown in this garden helps provide winter meals for Orono Seniors and educational opportunities for club kids throughout the year.

When I visited the Gardening and Cooking Club in early May, lettuces planted the previous fall were already growing robustly. After-school snacks for the children were prepared by Alexis Mantis, a Sustainable Agriculture graduate student from the University of Maine who already has a degree in culinary arts. Students ate a noodle dish made with kale pesto. The kale and garlic in the pesto had been grown and harvested the previous fall by the students.

Marge McCollough, a graduate student from the University of Maine Sustainable Agriculture Program, gave a lively presentation about pollinators with a focus on bees. GACC members had an opportunity to sample three kinds of honey on bread purchased from the Orono Farmers’ Market. Enthusiastic children chatted about the subtle differences in taste.

Following a discussion about the grains used in the bread they had just eaten, Pat’s husband, Doug, demonstrated how flour and corn meal is ground.

The afternoon concluded with the children decorating bee boxes. They were already planning where to locate the boxes in their own backyards, excited to tell parents all about it!

The GACC program ends the year with a family dinner celebration. It’s a fairly formal event that allow members to practice making a menu, setting a table, serving and clearing food and preparing a meal. Foods come from the GACC garden and the local farmers’ market.

Children take home a tomato plant (in a 5 gallon bucket) as well as various herbs and flowers – all started by themselves from seed; a tie-dyed apron and t-shirt, a reusable shopping bag and a recipe book filled with information and recipes they’ve used during the course of the year.

Senior citizens, college students, the town parks and recreation program, members of the farmers’ market, children, their families and the community, have all profited from the Gardening and Cooking Club. Its popularity has not gone unnoticed. Pat has already been receiving inquiries from other communities who want to start similar programs. It’s a successful model to be emulated.

Pat Bears has given life to a sustainable approach of connecting the community with food and gardening.

Her English grandmother would be pleased.

Pat Bears can be reached at: (207) 659-0820 bears.patti@gmail.com

 

Lisa Colburn is a Master Gardener in Penobscot County, Maine and Sarasota County, Florida.
She is the author of The Maine Garden Journal – Insider secrets from Maine people who love to put their hands in the dirt.
She will be writing a monthly article about Master Gardeners throughout Maine.

If you’re a Master Gardener interested in being featured in a future article, contact Lisa at (207) 404-3494 or by email: lisa@lisathegardener.com

 

Volcano Mulching

We’re starting to see volcanoes!

It seems to be a yearly occurrence in many front yards. I’m talking about volcano mulching – piling large mounds of mulch around the trunks of trees and shrubs – a practice that slowly kills the very plants it was intended to help. It’s TOO MUCH of a good thing!

“Don’t think that volcano mulching is OK because everyone is doing it,” says Temple University Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Professor, Eva Monheim. “Just because something is done doesn’t make it right. It causes bark to rot and roots get smothered. You have an unstable tree.”

Volcano mulching is too much of a good thing.

Mulch is used to cover soil around plantings for a number of reasons: It assists in reducing evaporation; it stops sunlight from hitting the soil so fewer weed seeds germinate; as the mulch decomposes, it breaks down and provides organic matter to the soil; and, mulch rings around trees can keep lawnmowers and string trimmers at a distance. Mulch is aesthetically pleasing and can probably be compared to the frosting on a cake.

So, what’s the problem?

The bark of a tree is its outermost protective layer. It needs to be exposed to the air in order to function properly. Moisture retained by the mulch softens the bark; as mulch decomposes it also decomposes the trunk of the tree – making it susceptible to fungus and insects.

Corey Cummings, Past President of the Maine Arborist Association, adds, “thick mulch provides great habitat for insects and rodents to crawl around in, most of the time undetected. We know what rodents can do to the base of trees in the winter. With the forest under a barage of attacks by native and invasive pests we don’t need to do anything that would lessen the vigor of a tree to help fight off pests. If done properly mulching can benefit the tree’s health and improve its habitat”

“Mulch cuts off the supply of oxygen to the roots, essentially suffocating them” says Mark Fuance, a Maine Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional (MCN/MCL). “It has the same effect as planting a tree too deeply – another reason for premature decline.”

After years of volcano mulching this tree is now in decline.

So, what’s a homeowner to do?

How to make a tree mulch ring:

Prepare: Carefully remove grass and weeds from around the trunk. Do not simply pile mulch on top of existing grass and weeds in an attempt to smother them. You will also inadvertently smother the roots of your tree.

Size: A two to three foot radius of mulch around a tree will allow for plenty of space to keep damaging equipment away from a tree’s bark.

Depth: Two to three inches of mulch will keep most weed seeds from germinating in the soil beneath but will still allow water and air to penetrate. Mark Fuance, MCN/MCL, says, “At the base of every tree is the root flare or crown.  This flare should always be two inches or so above the soil or mulch surface.  That will allow sufficient air to reach the roots.” If yearly mulching is done, be aware that in time it can result in too much thickness. In this case, “Old mulch should be removed before installing new material,” according to Mark Fuance. “Landscapers need to take the time to expose the root flare.”

Material: My first choice is dark-colored bark mulch. Well-aged wood chips and compost are fine. I don’t recommend dyed mulches or chopped rubber mulch. There’s concern about chemical residue leaching into the soil. Fresh wood chips and sawdust should not be used because they can deplete the nitrogen in the soil as they decompose causing chlorosis (yellowing leaves).

Mature trees can be harmed by too much mulch.

Know The Facts: Large, well-established trees do not need to be mulched. If you feel compelled to mulch to match surrounding beds follow the steps above.

Well-intentioned people who don’t know what’s really happening to their trees often build the mulch volcanoes. Uninformed “landscapers” think it’s ok. It’s simply a lack of knowledge about proper horticultural practices.

Now you know better! Protect your trees.

 

 

 

 

Lisa Colburn is a Master Gardener in Penobscot County, Maine and Sarasota County, Florida.
She is the author of The Maine Garden Journal – Insider secrets from Maine people who love to put their hands in the dirt.
Contact Lisa at (207) 404-3494 or by email: lisa@lisathegardener.com

Garden Surprises and Successes

At this time of year, when my outdoor gardening starts winding down, I take the time to look at photos I’ve taken throughout the year. It’s time to acknowledge some of the surprises and successes. It’s time to give thanks and be grateful that I am a gardener – there’s really no better pursuit where one can create beauty and cultivate food for the body and the soul.

One of the gadgets I got this year was a rain chain. I’d been lusting after one for a number of years. Consider rain chains functional garden art – beautiful to look at, mesmerizing to listen to and a fascinating downspout you’ll want to place in a prominent location. The rain chain came from Rain Chains Direct.

One of my biggest surprises this year has been the Albion day-neutral strawberries planted last spring. I planted them in raised beds and kept lightweight row cover on them all summer – to protect them from insect pests. They were mulched with straw so developing berries were never sitting on bare soil. I’ve been picking strawberries since the end of July. I added another layer of row cover for additional protection from frost at the end of October. I picked my last berries in November!

I’ve had a fabulous year in the greenhouse where I grow tomatoes – planted directly in the ground. I grow several kinds of tomatoes. I’m particularly fond of the big Beefsteaks for sauces and sandwiches but the workhorse of my greenhouse is definitely the grape tomato. By the end of the season, they have climbed all over the greenhouse dripping clusters of tomatoes as they grow. Visitors are always amazed at the lavish display. My favorite is Red Pearl available from Johnny’s Seeds. They’re nearly seedless so perfect for dehydrating.

I’ve mentioned it before and I’ll mention it again because I just have to rave about the abundant, show-stopping blooms of Gaura ‘Rosy Jane’. I had just one plant, located on the edge of a paved driveway in full sun – a tough location – hot and dry. Now, even with frost and cold winds, it’s still looking great. The long flower stems always seem to be swaying in the wind like whirling butterflies, one of its common names. It’s shown in this photo with Verbena bonariensis, Japanese forest grass and a dark-leafed canna. Wow!

Every year I plant sunflowers. I’ve been particularly fond of the standard big, golden yellow ones, but this year I planted a packet of mixed sunflower seeds. I was surprised to find a few new favorites. The rich color of this sunflower has inspired me to start painting again.

This must be the year that I take a crack at flowers in new colors. At first, I was taken aback by the color of Queen Red Lime zinnia but the more I used it in floral arrangement, the more I loved how it complemented dark-colored flowers particularly burgundy. It’s now a must-have zinnia on my list for next year.

Filler, Spiller and Thriller!

I love placing containers throughout my gardens. I’m particularly fond of large, glazed clay pots. They elevate plants up to eye-level where they can be best appreciated. Soil in pottery containers warms up faster than the surrounding garden – great for large-leafed tropical plants that also benefit from the reduced root competition. Tropical plants are heavy feeders and welcome reliable moisture. I water almost daily with a weak solution of high nitrogen fertilizer.

I typically follow the container planting guidelines that suggest you have a filler, a spiller and a thriller.

In this container my thriller is Canna ‘Pretoria’, and a combination of two plants acts as both a spiller and a filler. Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ and Scaevola ‘Topaz Pink’ grow through each other and create a fabulous contrast with this deep burgundy pot.

 

I always plant a few containers with elephant ear plants.  This glazed pickle crock greets people as they come to my front door. (Note: make sure to drill a few holes in the bottom of pots for drainage.) The thriller is a large, impressive elephant ear plant. The fillers are two kinds of coleus and a begonia. A delicate pale blue lobelia is the spiller. As you can imagine, this container, packed with plants, requires lots of attention to continue looking its best. I water it almost every day.

 

My end-of-June garden

My garden was featured in a garden tour at the end of June. While June can be a fabulous month for garden tours in most of the country, my garden is usually at its best in July. I think my garden looked better the week after the garden tour! and, two weeks later, it’s even prettier.

While I’m weeding my gardens, I pay special attention to volunteers that have popped up throughout my ornamental and vegetable gardens. I’m particularly fond of this Dianthus that’s been appearing throughout my gardens.

Dianthus always seems to find the right place to volunteer – this time near a small water feature.

One of the delights of having a garden is being able to eat fresh salad greens all summer long. Right now, my spinach and lettuce are at their best.

Heirloom Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach and Black-seeded Simpson lettuce

Heirloom Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach has a fabulous yield and is slow to bolt. I’ve been plucking small leaves to put in salads and we’ve been enjoying it with dinner – steamed with a dab of butter.

 

One of the secrets to using fewer pesticides on my food crops is using floating row cover to keep the insects away from the plants.

Floating Row Cover keeps the insects away so I don’t have to spray.

In these photos you see my broccoli and kale under cover. The kale leaves are always perfect and my broccoli is beautiful!

 

I’m loving being outside to experience my garden in bloom. My oriental poppies stunned everyone with their size and color this year.

Oriental Poppies

Because we had a cool spring, they bloomed later than usual. The last ones to bloom are extending the show. They were definitely one of my WOW plants!

 

My garden shed has been flanked by a few large-leafed, moisture-loving plants for years. This year, they’ve grown so large that we’re having a hard time getting into the shed.

Astilboides tabularis on the left and Duck’s Foot Rodgersia on the right.

On the left is Astilboides tabularis and on the right is Duck’s Foot Rodgersia (Rodgersia podophylla). For the time being, we’re squeezing through the foliage, looking for dinosaurs.

 

I love to have a touch of whimsy in the garden. This year, I took advantage of a tree trunk that houses a chickadee family.

Tree Lady

Tree lady protects her flock.

Snowbird Gardener Inspiration – Vacation to Sunny Florida!

What does a snowbound northerner crave after a brutal winter? GARDENS!

I’ve had the good fortune to be able to visit the fabulous Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida during spring break for several winters. Many of the tropical plants grown at this garden inspire my gardens in Maine in the summer time. Here are a few of the plants that got my attention this year.

Caladiums – Who needs flowers with leaves like this? I’ve had good luck growing them in Maine as long as I give them a head start in the house. They detest cold soils and may fail to sprout if planted directly in the ground in spring.

Staghorn Ferns make fabulous houseplants. Several of my friends grow them in Maine.

I’ve grown plenty of Alocasia in my garden in the summer but I’ll be looking for this very different one. I love the white markings. Envy!! I start these in a warm area in the house to give them a head start.

Tropical pitcher plants will become a conversation piece houseplant.
(Nepenthes sp.)

Tropical pitcher plants love the warm greenhouse at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden.

Tropical pitcher plants.

I have a love affair with fern leaves. This Australian Tree Fern towered over me – beautiful, lacy, sculptural leaves. I’ve got to try it as a houseplant.

The Marie Selby Botanical Garden is know for its world-class orchid collection.

This tropical orchid is related to the beautiful lady slippers that grow in northern areas.

For more information about growing these beautiful tropical plants go to the Marie Selby Botanical Garden website: http://www.selby.org/

I highly recommend a vacation to a warmer area – for gardening inspiration and to recharge your creative energy. When I return to Maine, I’ll be ready to put my hands in the dirt and start my gardening. My suitcase will certainly have room for a few “green travelers” from Florida! (An Australian Tree Fern, perhaps?)

The Benefit of Snow – YOU CAN GROW THAT!

It’s been a particularly snowy winter in Maine. Skiers and snowmobilers have been ecstatic with the accumulation of the white stuff… but gardeners only measure how much snow has to melt before we see the ground.

On the positive side:
Snow can make a plain little table into a piece of art!

Birds like snow art too!

Snow insulates the soil, buffers the extremes in temperature and protects all my dormant plants.

Snow gives you a different perspective on your garden.

I’ll have to be content to look outside through these windows…

..with my houseplants, patiently awaiting Spring.

October in a Maine Garden

There’s still lots of color to be found in my Orono, Maine garden.

Hydrangea ‘Strawberry Vanilla’ – Pure white in summer and brilliant pink by fall.

Beautiful castor bean pods (Ricinus communis) command attention but beware, they’re poisonous

Spirea japonica ‘Firelight’ displays a remarkable mixture of pink, gold, orange and red.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Indian Summer’ blooms and blooms and …

Verbena bonariensis volunteers throughout my garden

Delphinium Envy

I’ve had Delphinium envy for a long time.
This year it’s particularly intense.

Betty’s pale blue delphinium

I’ve been coveting my neighbor’s tall blue spikes for weeks.
They’re poking up all over her garden.

Betty’s dark blue delphinium

I can see why the centers are called bees.

Delphinium bees

I’m so glad that my very good friend and neighbor is a gardener.
I can borrow the view across the street.

Next year I will have delphiniums!!