vermiculture and using worm castings in organic gardening · po box 767 ∙ kenai, alaska 99611 ∙...
TRANSCRIPT
PO Box 767 ∙ Kenai, Alaska 99611 ∙ www.cenpengardenclub.org
April 2016
Tuesday, April 12
Vermiculture and Using Worm Castings
in Organic Gardening
Presented by Michael Hicks
It’s common in California to see large
commercial vermiculture operations –
the worms are raised in large raised
beds, and operators harvest both
worms and worm castings for sale.
But Alaska presents a challenging
environment for raising worms com-
mercially. Michael and Melodie Hicks
of Grandpa’s have figured out how to
do it.
Grandpa’s is a wholesale vermicul-
ture business based in Kasilof and serving retailers from Seldovia to Seward.
Started in 2014, their production in 2015 was about 39 yards (or 23 tons) of
worm castings, with a goal of more than 100 yards per year by 2020.
Join us at the general meeting at 7:00 on Tuesday, April 5th to learn how to use
worm castings to help your garden!
Join us on March 8th at 7pm at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building!
Mile 12.5 K-Beach Rd. Free and open to the public. Refreshments.
2016-17
Board Members
President & Publicity
Renae Wall
Vice President & Newsletter
Sharon Gherman
Secretary & Hospitality
Kay Gardner
Treasurer & CIAA Beds
Peggy Morris
Director, Plant Sale, & Historian
Cathy Haas
Director & Tech Committee
Don St. John
Director & Programs
Ron Homan
Director & Special Events
Lee Bowman
Director & May Seminars
Liz Dowler
Director & Summer Tours
Kathy Hobart
Director & Sea Ag sale
Della Bridenburg Presenters include Pat Holloway, Master Gardeners from around the state, Brian Olson with Alaska Berries and Marianne Binetti,
Pacific Northwest gardening expert. Registration $75 by March 28; between March 29 -April 12,
$85. Details and on-line registration at www.alaskamastergardeners.org/. <http://www.alaskamastergardeners.org/>
• Garden Market • Lunch • Silent auction • Door prizes • Reception
Page 2 Central Peninsula Garden Club
Will’s Rambles
The P in N-P-K by Will Hightower
I don’t know how many of you are “war movie buffs”, but do any of you
remember the movie “Apocalypse Now”? Robert Duval is one of the char-
acters and he says, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Quite
often Phosphorus is used by the military, specifically in compounding na-
palm, and is nasty stuff. Last month our fertilizer had stuff that goes
“boom” and this month we have stuff that can burn you badly. If these bad
dudes are used in the right amounts they make for life, beautiful life. You
are growing plants in your garden for the seeds and fruits. The plants will benefit from a source
of phosphorus. If you are not growing for seeds and fruits, why are you gardening?
Phosphorus helps establish healthy root systems in young plants. It also helps support the
transfer of energy in plants, which is a different role from other plant nutrients. Phosphorus is
essential for life. Phosphates (compounds containing the phosphate ion, PO4−3) are a compo-
nent of DNA, RNA, ATP, and help in forming cell membranes. Elemental phosphorus was first
isolated from human urine, and bone ash was an important early phosphate source.
For gardeners, phosphorus comes in two forms, soluble and insoluble. In both forms, phospho-
rus in soil can wash away in heavy rains and pollute waterways. Phosphorus in chemical and
natural fertilizers is soluble and easily accessible to plants at first but becomes less so over time
as the phosphorous compounds react with other compounds in the soil. Both soluble and insol-
uble phosphorus can contaminate ground water.
Plants low in phosphorus often exhibit a small fruit set. Other signs of phosphorus deficiency
include delayed maturity and reduced growth. Deficient plants may show purple coloring in the
older leaves. Young plants are particularly vulnerable to low levels of phosphorus.
Gardeners should apply phosphorus with care to avoid problems with over fertilization and pol-
lution. Routinely applying phosphorus without testing for deficiency can cause phosphorous
toxicity. Over fertilization with phosphorus causes leaves to turn yellow between their veins.
This is because too much phosphorus prevents iron, manganese and zinc from being available
to plants.
Phosphorus is often included in starter fertilizer for new lawns because it promotes strong root
growth. One must be careful in the amount of phosphorus applied. Insoluble phosphorus can
build up salts in the soil, causing ‘fertilizer burn’. Fertilizer burn can also occur when other ex-
cess nutrients are applied, causing drying out of the leaves and damage or even death of the
plant, so be careful in application. One way to avoid over fertilizing is, whenever possible, to
stick with well composted organic compounds. Go talk to the garden club about using SeaAg.
Now, not knowing much about phosphorus, some of the above is a rewrite of information that I
have researched in the last month. But, I would like to return to one item, urine. An urban leg-
end goes that lilacs will grow better if they are urinated on, especially of the male variety. Hav-
ing seen the results of dogs so blessing plants, said activity often burns the plant. I would sug-
gest that a water hose chaser be applied. That is if you are into checking out urban legends.
In some countries (South Africa, China and Sweden) urine diversion systems (for use as fertiliz-
er) have been implemented, with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation providing much of the
funding. So, the next time your computer acts up, take the computer out to the garden and ----
on it. That way you cut out the middle man.
Gardening Blogs Wanted:
If you write a garden blog - or if you read a
gardening blog you particularly like - would
you send the URL to me at sgher-
[email protected]? We'd like to include
samples from great garden blogs in future
newsletter issues. Thanks!
Sharon Gherman, Newsletter Editor
Page 3 Central Peninsula Garden Club
Division of Agriculture News: USDA Farm to School Update Check out the new School Garden Factsheet: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/f2s/FactSheet_School_Gardens.pdf
USDA released the 2013-2014 Farm to School Census results <https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/> , and we are thrilled to see that schools have been deep-ening their engagement with farm to school over the past two years. School districts across the country doubled their local food purchases and nearly tripled the number of school gardens since the first Census, and they are seeing more students participating in school meals, greater acceptance of healthy meal standards and reduced food waste because of it. To find Alaska specific results go to: https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/find-your-school-district
Events/Grants Don’t forget to sign up for the early bird registration for the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference by March 31st. To register go to: http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/8/
The Chef Ann foundation is accepting applications for their Project Produce grant program designed to support food costs to incorporate school-wide fruit and vegetable tastings. There is no deadline, grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis depending on funding. For more information go to: http://www.chefannfoundation.org/programs-and-grants/project-produce/
T&L Foundation for Child Care Information is accepting proposals for mini-grants. Child and Adult Food Care Programs (CACFP) or CACFP sponsors that have a health and wellness project they want to fund. Applications are being accepted through April 13th, 2016. For more information go to: http://www.tlfcci.org/mini-grants-2016.html
Alaska Bee Registration Reminder
Spring is almost here and it is time to start thinking about Bee hives and honey.
In accordance with Alaska Law AS 03.47.030 & 11 ACC 35.010 – 35.020)
“ALL” Bees must be registered in the State of Alaska.
Why is it important to register your bees? This information allows the division to
respond in-case of an outbreak of Foulbrood or any other bee related diseases.
If an outbreak or suspicion of a diseased hive is reported, the division will take
a sample and have it tested.
The registration form is now available online at the Division of Agriculture web-
site dnr.alaska.gov/ag/. Under the “Programs” title you will see a category titled
“Inspection Services”, there you will find “Bee Registration” to directly access
the application.
When you open the application online, you can type your information straight
into the application. When you have completed the form, click “Save As” to
save for your own records. If you choose to email the document in, simply click
on the “Email” button at the top of the application, and if you are using Outlook or something similar (a “desktop application”), it will automatically fill out
the necessary information and attach your application. If you are using “Internet Email” you will need to copy [email protected] into the “To” line,
and attach your application. Hard copies of the application are also available and accepted at the Division at: Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn High-
way, Suite 12, Palmer, AK 99645, phone: 745-7200, fax: 745-7112. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Alaska-Grown Source Book
The 2016-2017 Alaska Grown Source Book to go online!
Future editions of the Source Book will now be digital which means you can update your information
and be added ANYTIME during the year. To check out the digital version go to: http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/
sourcebook/sourcebookindex2014.html.
Remaining 2014-2015 Alaksa Grown Source Book printed versions are still available on request while
supplies last.
To be added to the Online Alaska Grown Source Book please submit the following information by email to:
[email protected] or [email protected].
Region (Interior, Kenai Peninsula, SC, SE, SW) Farm name Your name, address, telephone number Email
and web address Selling location (including if you are a CSA or Upick) Any additional information (less than
75 characters) Farm products available or farm services offered
Everyone who has previously submitted an application for the 2016-2017 Alaska Grown Source Book will be
automatically included in the online version. If a farm was listed in the previous version of the Online Source
Book, their listing will be maintained and updated by request to reflect their services.
If you have any questions or require assistance please call or email Kim Allen at 907-745-8735 or Jacquelyn Schade at 907-761-3858.
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 4
May Workshop Weekends–
Save the Dates!
Every Saturday in May, there will be at least one gardening work-
shop available to the public in various locations in the Central
Peninsula. Workshops are $5 each, and you can pay at the work-
shop itself.
Here are some of the workshops to
expect:
May 7
Create Hanging Flower
Basket
Playing with Dirt: Evalu-
ate dirt structure
Beginning to interpret soil
lab results and improve your garden soils
A-Z on growing winter squash
May 14
Beginning Birch Tree Tapping
Identify weeds and trees that can be used for food and
medicine
Seed starting to edible food!
Making yard art- concrete decorative globes
May 21
Native Pollinators
Description and elements of organic growing methods
Disease-Zapping 101
Preparing raised beds for planting in hoop house / out-
doors
May 28
Setting up drip irrigation system for an average backyard
garden
Renewable resources in garden and home
High Tunnel Construction, management and irrigation
Watch for workshop descriptions and locations in the
May newsletter. We’ll see you there!
New Local Seed Company
Opens March 18
Far Daring Seeds is Amy Dimmick's new venture, located at Winter Greens Organic Gardens in Kasilof (Mile 111.4 Sterling Highway). The greenhouse
is open for seed and plant sales from noon - 6 pm, Friday and Saturday, starting March 18. Amy has "over 150 varieties of organically grown, variable climate adaptive flower, herb and vegetable seeds from popular favorites to "lost," rare or endangered heirloom varieties." To request a seed list, email
Reserve Booth Space for May 21
Sale at Three Bears
Vendors are invited to sell plants, plant starts, small livestock (e.g. poultry,
rabbits), jams/jellies and farm-produced items. There is no booth fee, but a
portion of sales go to support Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District.
Donations of items for sale are also welcome! For more information, contact
Abraham or Jessica England through Facebook (Abundant Blessings Farm)
or email [email protected].
WANTED: Chefs and Chef at the
Market Assistant
Nominate yourself or someone you know to be one of our Chefs at the Mar-
ket this summer! "Chefs" need not have professional experience. The ideal
candidate is someone who loves local food, is comfortable in the kitchen, and
enjoys teaching and engaging with an audience. Chefs receive a stipend of
$100/demonstration. We also have a community service/volunteer position
for a responsible high school or college student to assist with this pro-
gram. Candidates must have a driver's license
and reliable transportation. For more information, contact Heidi Chay at
Celebrate Alaska Ag Day - May 3
The first Tuesday in May is Alaska Ag Day. What can you do on this day to
raise public awareness about Alaska farms and farming? Talk to a reporter,
invite a teacher to bring students to your farm, visit a classroom, post your
best farm photos on Facebook (or send them to [email protected]
for posting), spread the word!
Stop by and say hi at the CPGC booth at the Home Show on
Saturday, April 9th!
Got a story or photos to share?
Contact Sharon Gherman [email protected]
Advertising space available at very reasonable prices!
Check out the club’s Face Book page!
Newsletter layout by Becky Holloway
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 5
Gardener’s Latin—Echinacea
Gardener’s Latin purpurea – purple in color
Echinacea purpurea
In recent years, coneflowers have become one of the most popular hardy perennials in the landscape, with new hybrids introduced each year, much to the delight of gar-deners. Behind the coneflower craze is the patriarch of the family, the native purple coneflow-er, Echinacea purpurea. This drought-tolerant robust perennial needs little introduc-tion, as its name and flower are instantly recognized by gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The medicinal properties of Echinacea are well-documented and Echinacea is a common herbal drug used to ward off colds and flu by stimulating the immune sys-tem at the onset of symptoms. The closely related Echinacea angustifolia was widely used to treat serious diseases such as tuberculosis and diptheria prior to the intro-duction of modern antibiotics. Whether grown for ornamental or herbal value, coneflowers are a great addition to the garden. Give them a sunny spot with well-drained soil and they'll reward you with plenty of blooms. From davesgarden.com
Other Latin Descriptions for April:
Carnation – dianthus caryophyllus – caryophyllus means “clove-like fragrance”
Jupiter’s Beard – centranthus ruber – ruber means “ruddy” or “red”
Thyme – thymus vularis – vulgaris means “vulgar” or “common”
Sage – salvia officianalis – officianalis means “medicinal”
Johnny Jump-Up - Viola tricolor – tricolor = three-colors
Have you found other plant names with Latin descriptions you found interesting? Send them to Sharon Gherman at [email protected] and she’ll include them in a future issue.
2016 Fiscal Year Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Request for
Proposals
Alaska’s Division of Agriculture announces the availability of grant funds for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Alaska’s specialty crops
including fruits, vegetables, horticulture and nursery crops. These funds are awarded through a competitive review process guided by industry, non-
profit and government stakeholders.
The timeline for this application cycle is:
March 17, 2016: Webinar 2:30pm – 3:30pm Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/4842016484749153281
March 25, 2016: Webinar 10:30 – 11:30am Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/2370777239599518721
April 7, 2016: Letter of Intent (LOI) due by 5:00pm
April 18, 2016: LOI feedback returned to applicants
May 23, 2016: Full applications due by 5:00pm
June 6, 2016: Final decisions made
July, 2016: State plan submitted to USDA (some adjustments to projects may be required by AMS at this point)
October, 2016: Funds disbursed from USDA (exact date TBA)
For more information and application instructions visit: http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/Grants/ Final_16_SCBG_RFP.pdf
or contact: Johanna Herron Office (907) 761-3870 Email: [email protected] 1800 Glenn Highway,
Suite 12 Palmer, AK 99645 Fax: (907) 745-7112
Type of plant: Perennials
Bloom color: Pink, Magenta
(Pink-Purple), Violet/
Lavender, Purple, White/
Near White
Bloom time of year: Mid
Summer, Late Summer/
Early Fall, Mid Fall
Sun requirements: Full Sun,
Sun to Partial Shade
Cold hardiness: Zone 2a to
Zone 10b
Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm),
36-48 in. (90-120 cm), 4-6 ft.
(1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90
cm), 36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 6
Recap: March 8th Program
Bees and Beekeeping on the Peninsula
We had a great crowd at our March meeting for Sarah Souders’ presentation on Honeybees and Natural
Pollinators. Sarah is the owner of Sarah’s Alaska Honey in Kenai (www.alaskahoney.com). Sarah’s Alas-
ka Honey offers bees, beehives and beekeeping tools, instruction for beginning beekeepers, and a varie-
ty of honey- and beeswax-related products – all natural, of course!
Even if you don’t plan to raise honeybees, Sarah offered a wealth of relevant and interesting information
for gardeners. For instance, have you ever noticed honeybees bouncing off the walls of your greenhouse
or high tunnel? That’s because honeybees orient by locating the sun and their hive entrance. In a high
tunnel or other structure, if they can’t locate the sun, they’re lost. What’s the solution? Orient your high
tunnel with an opening or window to the south or southwest.
Here are some recommendations from Sarah to help you support native pollinators in your garden:
Leave some areas wild, including native forage as well as rotting logs, bare earth, and/or leaf piles for winter Bumblebee nesting
sites.
Leave and/or create south/southwest openings in your greenhouse or high tunnel so that when the bees fly toward the sun to
orient, (particularly in the evenings) they can escape.
Use natural remedies instead of harsh chemicals whenever possible on your gardens so you don’t inadvertently kill pollinators.
Bait traps with a sweet and meaty combination will attract hornets, wasps, etc. but not honeybees or the local bumblebees.
Try to have an array of plants that will produce nectar and pollen at different times for as much of the season as possible.
Remember that "weeds" such as dandelion and clover offer important nutrients that pollinators depend upon for survival.
Would you like to learn more? Check out these links Sarah sent to share with you:
Natural Pollinators
How to Plant a Pollinator Garden
The Brief Busy Life of the Arctic Bumblebee
Diatomaceous Earth and Bees
2016 Get Ready for Spring Event Recap
About this time of the year we’re all itching to get our fingers into the soil. Although it’s still a bit too early to actually get out into our outside gardens,
the Get Ready for Spring roundtables gave a small but enthusiastic group of members and local residents the opportunity to get a head start on some
of their garden planning at the Kenai Visitor Center on Saturday, March 26.
This event is a great place for our
local club members to answer
questions from beginning and
growing gardeners and to spread
the word about CPGC. We en-
joyed the day and hope to have
some of our attendees join us at
future monthly meetings!
The event was a roomful of mini-workshops on a variety of gardening topics and activities including beekeeping, starting seeds, garden planning,
Sea-Ag fertilizer, pest control, tub gardening, high tunnels, growing perennials, and seed catalogs.
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 7
Alaska
Master
Gardener
Conference
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Anchorage
Featured speaker is
Marianne Binetti,
Pacific Northwest
gardening expert.
Early registration due
by March 28.
After that, the fee of
$75 goes up $10.
Price includes classes,
lunch and reception.
On-line registration at
www.alaskamastergard
eners.org/. <http://
www.alaskamastergard
eners.org/>
Everyone is welcome.
SEA AG/KELP ORDER FORM
It’s time for the Central Peninsula Garden Club’s Annual Sea Ag Fertilizer Sale Fundraiser!
Order now to get your soil amendment this spring, along with the dried kelp for foliar feeding
throughout the summer. Please indicate your order choices below. Make checks payable to
CPGC. Bring this form with your payment to a CPGC event, or mail to:
Central Peninsula Garden Club
PO Box 767
Kenai, AK 99611
ALL ORDERS AND PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY CPGC NO LATER THAN APRIL 30, 2016.
_________________________________________________ _________________________ Name (please PRINT): Phone
_____________________________________ E-mail address
Product Product Description
Order
Quantity Price
Total
(Qty x Price)
Sea-Ag 10 lb. jug 25.00$
Sea-Ag 50 lb. bag 40.00$
Sea-Ag 1000 lbs (20 ea. 50 lb. bags) 650.00$
Sea-Ag 2000 lbs (1 ton, bulk) $1,200.00
Sea-Ag 2000 lbs (40 ea. 50 lb. bags) $1,250.00
Soluable Kelp 1 lb bag 25.00$
(foliar feed)
Total Amount Remitted: Please read and sign below:
I understand that all orders MUST be picked up between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Snug Harbor Seafoods parking lot, located at Mile 14.5 K-Beach Road, Kenai, AK. Any unclaimed product will be donated to a local community garden project to be determined by the CPGC.
____________________________________________ ________________________ Signature Date
Questions? Contact: Della Bridenburg, (907) 776-3908 or e-mail [email protected]
Thank you for your order!