1 the mason jar - wsu...
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
Seeds For Thought
R. Jeanne Rehwaldt
I am so proud of all the Mason County WSU Master Gardeners.
You are busy planning and working on our projects for 2013. The
interns from the class of 2012 have jumped right in and are
contributing their time and skills to help us get the plant sale
going, Through the Garden Gate workshops accomplished, and
many more activities. The energy level is high and I hope we can
keep it high throughout this entire year.
We are looking for a new editor for the Mason Jar. If you have
skills using Publisher, or feel you can create this same look in a
different program, I would encourage you to give me a call to
discuss it. This is a project that can be done from home and the
template is already set up for you.
The greenhouse at Pioneer is up and running. The heat is on and
seeds have been planted. There are several more work days
planned there, so check the calendar for the details. A HUGE
thank you goes out to Monty Cobb (Wendy Cobb’s husband). He
brought his tractor up to the garden last weekend and leveled
the area for us. This was a great labor saver and we truly
appreciate it.
I look forward to seeing everyone out and about, busy working on
our projects that make such an impact on the citizens of Mason
County.
The Mason Jar Mason County WSU Master Gardener Newsletter
February 2013
Inside This Issue:
Contacts 2
General Mtg. Minutes 3
Donald D.Tapio Article 6
Catalyst Corner 8
Community 9
Getting Involved 11
February Gardening 12
___ 14
Calendar 16
Back Page 18
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Extension Staff
Robert Simmons
Director
Ext.690
R. Jeanne Rehwaldt
Master Gardener Coordinator
Ext. 688
Michelle Lapp
AmeriCorps
Ext. 687
Master Gardener
Ext 687
Office
303 N. 4th Ave
Shelton, WA 98584
360-427-9670
Ext. 680
Fax 360-427-7264
Foundation Representative
Janet Mutter
Executive Board
President
Pat Carpenter
President Elect
Christy Rowe
Vice President
Lou Schmidt
Secretary
Evon Masteller
Treasurer
Margie Plebuch
Directors at Large
Sybil Jones
Lisa Stroman
Contacts
Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, US Department of Agriculture and Mason County. Extension
Programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported
through your local Extension Office.
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
Mason County WSU Master Gardeners’ General Meeting, January 14, 2013 at 10:15am to 12:00pm at Timberland Library
Present: Pat Carpenter, Pres.; Lou Schmidt, Vice Pres.; Margie Plebuch, Treasurer; Evon Masteller, Secretary; Jan Mutter, Foundation Representative; Sybil Jones and Lisa Stroman, Dirs. -At-Large; Jeanne Rehwaldt, WSU Ext. MG Coord.; Michelle Lapp, Americorps.
Master Gardeners: Bonnie Day, Mary Bigger, Dave and Karen Shephard, Erika Stewart, Sherry Clemmens, Puja Pecovsky, Carol Freytag and Beatrix Blackerby with
Guests: Ted and Willie.
Agenda
Welcome/call to order by Pat Carpenter/introduction of members and guests
Approval of December 10, 2012 minutes - approved
Officers’ reports:
>Treasurer’s report - Margie Plebuch
- Thru Garden Gate brought in $575. We still have money in all our accounts. (Record in her files and Secy. Hand-notes.)
>Vice President’s report and program schedule - Lou Schmidt
- We have reserved our meeting space at the Library through June, 2013. Today’s Program will be from a video on You Tube on her nephew who is an Orchardist with a Bio-Engineering Degree. ‘GMO that will be a good.’ She will email this site out to us.
- Next month’s program will be on ‘Herbal Tea’ by MG Jill Coulsen.
- Banner - $170 w/grommets and rope for a size of 20 feet x 2-½ feet. Letters with laser cut will be extra.
>Secretary’s report - Evon Masteller - nothing
>Foundation Rep. report - Jan Mutter
- This year’s educational conference will be in September 26-28 in Everett, Washington. Lewis County has expressed an interest in sharing a table with us for a cost of $20. We would be able to show our work and sell our journals.
>Coordinator’s report - Jeanne Rehwaldt
- She completed the Year-End Report. For next year it would work best to keep tabs along the way on the feedbacks, evaluations and success stories of all our projects and events at the time of the event.
-We can now register our volunteer hours on line - if we have problems, let her know and solutions will be addressed.
(Continued on page 4)
General Meeting Minutes
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Committee and project reports:
>Thru the Garden Gate workshops - Bonnie Day
42 people present. $7 bags of soil were brought by Doug Wright (Creation Organics) and given to participants. Talked about a field trip out to their Kamilche business site.
**Possibility of making some money selling bags at our plant sale (they will let us buy for $4/sell for $8.)
Process that seems to have worked for this workshop was getting the word out via Kitsap News, Cisco website and other advertising channels throughout the inner Puget Sound Area Next workshop will be Bonsai and Bamboo. (January 26)
>Plant Sale - Mary Bigger/Evon Masteller
- Mason Jar will continue to be the arena for Mary’s topics to be addressed for the plant sale.
-200 boxes for our shoppers - so save your boxes now (fold up and store).
-Stakes are being acquired for mounting our signs. Carol’s husband will be customizing our wooden stakes and plastic stakes that allow full clarity of the plant sign used in an efficient and good looking exhibit.
-Hypertufa planting on Jan. 19th. Best to use 3 different kinds of sedum to offer color, structure and diversity w/in one planter.
>Catalyst/Children’s/Community Garden - Bonnie Day, Lisa Stroman and Sybil Jones (respectively).
-Feb. 16th new fence going up. Work party scheduled from 10-2 with a potluck to feed our crew.
- Terry Conley (recent MG graduate) will be bringing his CAD Program to do some analysis and trial set-ups for the beginning of designing the Children’s Garden.
-Comm. Gardens have 20 beds. Jan. 31st Application with Feb. 25th Deadline, Orientation will be March 9th.
-6 beds need to get raised so they are deeper.
>Pioneer Greenhouse - Bonnie Day
-Jan. 19th work party from 10-. Planting sedums in the hypertufa pots. We will be putting soil in garbage cans and filling pots with soil so we will be needing our sterilized pots returned.
-Feb. 2 will be our planting day for seeds.
(Continued from page 3)
(Continued on page 5)
General Meeting Minutes
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
- Mar. 15th - plant tomatoes (Larry Knudsen uses that date as well.)
>Garden Tour - Pat Carpenter/Lou Schmidt
Jan. 16th meeting. We need to promote through our Thru Garden Gate Workshops and have a flyer there as well as at the office for this event.
>Grants and Pioneer project - Michelle Lapp
-She sent out copies of the grant for our information on the particular projects.
-Hoping for lumber for the beds from Simpson.
- Design a Keyhole Garden.
-Jan. 17th - Pioneer Committee Meeting, 5p.m. @ WSU. For ML King Care Day there will be lunch provided. Please let her know if you will bring: bread, soup, salad, or dessert.
-Food Bank - garden as a learning tool for Food Sense with Karen King. This will also be addressing the program called “Moving Toward a Healthier Future” which will be at the Intermediate Pioneer School.
-Jeanne said a $500 grant was in the works for “Edible Park” with Heidi Iyall and John Keaets working w/Choice and Evergreen Schools.
Other items for discussion:
>Discount/membership cards - Margie/Jeanne
- They are available and ready for sale.
>Sign up for Clinics and Microscope training - Jeanne Rehwaldt
March 2 10a.m. training. Clinic resources need to be gleaned and updated to contemporary standards. (No “1970’s” editions.)
>Need a volunteer for audit - Dave Shephard and Sherry Clemmens have volunteered for this most ‘admiral’ task.
>Fair Board and WSU Ext. programs in the future - still in limbo.
>Master Gardener of the Year Announcement of Larry Knudsen.
**Plant Sale List of Donations was circulated and most people indicated that they will be emailing Mary Bigger with their selections. This sheet will stay in the Plant Sale Portfolio in Evon Masteller’s files.
(Continued from page 4)
(Continued on page 8)
General Meeting Minutes
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Donald D. Tapio Article Title: WSU Publications Provide a Wealth of Info on Growing Fruit Just in time for spring planting, WSU Extension has several excellent references for home gardeners who are interested in growing fruit. Intended as a guide for both home gardeners and commercial orchardists, EB 0937 Tree Fruit Varieties for Western Washington provides a wealth of information. It is based on fruit evaluation trials conducted during the past 40 years at Washington State University’s Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon. While the various climatic zones within Western Washington may favor different varieties of fruit, most of those listed in this publication will bear reliably year after year here in our coastal climate. The bulletin covers the selection and cultivation of standard tree fruit found throughout Western Washington, including apples, pears, Asian pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. There are detailed descriptions of recommended varieties including flavor, use, type and disease resistance. Also included are several charts listing bloom dates for apples, pears, plums, prunes and cherries to help determine pollination needs. Types of fruit are listed according to ease of growing, and varieties are listed in approximate order of ripening. In addition, there is information on a number of fruiting shrubs including currants and gooseberries, as well as on vines like grapes and kiwis that have been tested over the years at Mount Vernon. Other kinds of fruit such as figs, quinces, persimmons, paw paws, and berries that have potential as alternative fruit crops are mentioned as well. They are covered in greater detail in two other publications including EB 2002 New Alternative Fruit Crops for Western Washington and EB 1640 Growing Small Fruits in the Home Garden. Whether you are choosing two or three favorite varieties for your backyard or have a larger orchard for family and even farmer market production, you will find useful information in this publication on variety selection and basic factors or orchard culture. For the apple connoisseur, Publication EB 1436 Apple Cultivars for Puget Sound, is based on research conducted at the WSU Research Station in Mt. Vernon. This publication not only provides colored photos of individual varieties, but also has descriptions of fruit flavor, resistance to scab and mildew diseases, and overall productivity. It’s an excellent resource for apple identification. Over the past twenty years the Fruit Horticulture Program at the WSU Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center located in the Skagit Valley, has tested a number of alternative fruit crops. A summary of this research has now been published in a popular publication appropriately titled: New Alternative Fruit Crops for Western Washington. While the publication is written for commercial agricultural producers looking to diversify their crops, much of the information is of value to home gardeners wishing to expand beyond their traditional plots of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. While some of the crops discussed in the publication may never do well in commercial production in our coastal climate, home gardeners have the distinct advantage of growing these novelty plants in micro-climates which may enhance plant performance and fruit production. Recommended crops include black currants, which have
(Continued on page 7)
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
Donald D. Tapio Article
the highest Vitamin C content of all temperate fruits. Black currants also contain bioflavanoids, which are agents that reduce blood pressure. Other intriguing recommendations include two common landscape trees, Cornelian Cherry and Mountain Ash, which are listed for their edible fruit. For the health conscious, there is extensive information on Aronia, which has been designated as a “healing plant”. Aronia fruit is valued for its juice, which is very high in anthocyanins, blends well with other fruit juices, and is considered to be a source of “phenols, leucoanthocyanins, catachines, flavonoles, and flavones” that are bioactive in humans. The juice also has very strong colorant properties and is used in natural food coloring and also as a teinturier to impart a deeper color to red wines. Researchers add that Aronia berries will have to be protected from birds because they devour the berries before harvest, but other than that, they have observed no major pest problems. The publication provides a wealth of information with discussion of other unique crops including dessert apples, Asian pears, hardy kiwis, late sweet cherries, wine grapes, peaches, plums, currants, seaberry, pawpaws, and figs. You can download a free copy of EB 2002 New Alternative Fruit Crops for Western Washington by going to pubs.wsu.edu.
(Continued from page 6)
Staying informed is easier than ever!
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Face Book Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-County-WSU-Master-Gardeners/191488234215347
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener blog at the Mason County Daily News
http://masoncountydailynews.com/mason-county-master-gardeners
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Website
http://county.wsu.edu/mason/gardening/Pages/default.aspx
Tune in to “The Garden Gate” with Master Gardener Steve Edmondson weekdays at 12:15
KOOL FM 104.1 / AM 1030 KMAS
Check out Jeanne Rehwaldt’s gardening and nutrition articles! You can find them every other
week in the Shelton—Mason County Journal, located under Non Profit News in the Master
Gardener Column, and monthly in the new Mason County Daily News’ monthly paper!
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Catalyst Corner The Catalyst Park committee has been busy meeting over the past several months to make
decisions about improvements to the garden and to plan work days. The existing fence around the
garden will be removed and replaced with a new one. The first work day for the fence will be
Saturday, February 9th just after the Through the Garden Gate workshop. Plan to meet at the
garden at 1 pm. On February 16th volunteers will meet at 10 AM to erect the new fence. There
will be a potluck lunch provided for workers.
If you are interested in serving on the planning committee, the next meeting is set for February 21
at 3 pm at the WSU Extension office. A couple of garden clean up days have been scheduled.
February 23rd at 1 p m and March 2nd at 10 AM. This second work day will be to add another level
of boards to the lower beds to enable more soil depth for the gardeners using the beds. This day
will also include a potluck lunch.
Applications are ready and we are looking for more community members to apply for a bed. Cost
is very reasonable. An application is located on page 10 of this issue of the Mason Jar.
Dates to remember: (Minutes continued)
Jan. 16th Garden Tour Committee meeting 4p.m. @ WSU
Jan. 19th Pioneer Greenhouse workday 9:30 - 12:00 (Sedum planting begins)
Jan. 21st MLKing Day of Caring at Pioneer School 11-2
Jan. 26 2nd TTGG workshop: Bamboo and Bonsai 9-12 @ Memorial Hall
Jan. 28th MG Board Meeting 10 @ WSU
Feb. 2nd Start planting at greenhouse 9:30
Feb. 7th Catalyst and Plant Sale meetings 3:30 and 5:00 p.m.
Feb. 9th 3rd TTGG workshop: Seeds, Bees, & more 9-12 @ Memorial Hall
Feb. 12th Pioneer Committee meeting @ WSU Extension 4:15 pm.
Feb. 16th Catalyst Park - Fence building work party 10-2 w/Potluck lunch
Feb. 21st Children’s Garden meeting @ Blondie’s Restaurant, Railroad Avenue
Adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Note: We need to start collecting lots of sedums for the hypertufa pots. Another task is to start compiling a list of plants (and photos, if available) you will be contributing to the plant sale. Then email it to Mary Bigger ([email protected]). These would be plants you are starting at home or have divided or those you were “plant sitting”.
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
Congratulations to February’s Master Gardener of the Month, Michelle Lapp
Community
Written by Christy Rowe
Michelle Lapp came to Mason County through the AmeriCorps
program with only three weeks notice to uproot her life in Olney,
Maryland and move to the west coast. She had recently graduated
with a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Clemson
University in South Carolina and applied for this position in
Shelton. Michelle says she was terrified when she came to start the
program and didn’t even know where she was going to live when
she landed at Sea-Tac airport. But looking back she couldn’t be
happier with her decision and is grateful for the position and which
she says has given her the opportunity to meet some amazing
people.
Michelle went through the Master Gardener program with little knowledge of gardening other
than helping her mom and grandma in the garden when she was younger. After taking the course
she has a new love for gardening and looks forward to growing vegetables with a particular love
of tomatoes to accompany her other favorite food – anything that swims.
Her favorite part of her position is working with people and she enjoys teaching the Food $ense
lessons to the children at Pioneer Primary School. She also loves working with the Master
Gardeners and enjoyed helping with the harvest at the end of the summer. In her life outside
this position Michelle likes to cook, read, knit and loves being outside at the beach. In Maryland
she and her brother would enjoy spending time together going to the shore to fish – although
she says she’s not very good at it. Now she is adding gardening to her list of favorite things to
do.
Michelle’s future plans are a bit vague right now but she is considering going back to school to
get her Master’s degree in agricultural education or a related field. She is enthusiastic about
promoting nutrition and healthy living with her new passion learning sustainability practices and
becoming more educated about agriculture. If there is a job working in an environment which
combines both agriculture and food system sustainability and nutrition working with people, this
would be her desire.
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Catalyst Park Community Garden Application 2013
Thanks for your interest in Catalyst Park Community Garden! Please print all information and return to the WSU Extension Office
(303 N. 4th Street, Shelton, WA 98584) by February 28, 2013.
Name ________________________________________________________________________________________
First Middle Last
Gender(circle): Male Female Date of Birth(mm/dd/yyyy)____________________
Gardeners sharing your plot (family members, neighbors)_______________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________________________
# and Street City Zip code
Phone _________________________ _________________________ Day Evening
Home Work Best time to call (circle)
Email________________________________________________________________________________________
Circle the languages you speak: English Spanish Vietnamese Russian Other______________________
I agree to…(check all)
____ Maintain my garden plot (weeding, harvesting often, tending)
____Allow Master Gardeners to donate produce to Saints’ Pantry Food Bank if my bed is not harvested
regularly (A Master Gardener will call on Thursday if produce is ready to be picked and you will have
until Tuesday to harvest or food will be donated)
____ Follow Garden Rules
____Abide by garden steering committee
____ Clear my plot at the end of the season
____ I understand that a criminal background check will be completed prior to final consideration of my application
____ I agree to let my photo be used by WSU Extension and the WSU Mason Co. Master Gardeners
____I do not agree to let my photo be used and will let any photographer know
____ I agree to pay $15 (4x8) or $20 (4x12) For my plot to pay for general garden costs (check or cash due at
orientation, c/o Mason Co. Master Gardeners.)
____I agree to attend a mandatory garden preliminary meeting, then orientation by the end of March 2013
Personal Responsibility: I agree to hold the Mason Co. Master Gardeners, City of Shelton Parks and Recreation Department, and
their agents and employees harmless from all liability for bodily harm, damage, or loss of any kind arising from, or in any manner
connected with, my participation in Catalyst Park Community Garden.
Signed:______________________________________ Date:___________________
Name (gardener responsible for plot)
Questions? Call Michelle at 360-427-9670 ex. 689 or email her at [email protected]
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
The February meeting will be held at the Shelton Timberland library at 10:15 am. Jill Coulsen will be doing the presentation about teas. Immediately following the meeting you are invited to travel to Pioneer School’s greenhouse and plant over two hundred plugs of perennials that Lou Schmidt purchases from a nursery in Tenino. The hope is to grow them nice a strong and sell them at the plant sale for lots of profit! Remember to sign in at the front desk of Pioneer Primary school before heading out to the greenhouse. The school needs to know who is on the grounds at all times. In addition, be sure to sign back out when you leave. You will be surprised at all the work that has been accomplished in the greenhouse and garden at Pioneer school. The ground has been leveled, scotch broom removed from the perimeter outside the fence, new tables built, hypertufa pots planted with sedums, and seeds planted in the heated side of the greenhouse. We are so proud of all the work that has been done in such a short time. Contact Michelle Lapp for more information about helping out.
General Meeting
Wanted for the Mason Jar:
Editor needed!
Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs, please submit dates and times of upcoming meetings so
they can be included in the Mason Jar calendar
Your favorite recipe utilizing local, seasonal produce
Your “free”, “trade”, or “wanted” classified ad
Information about upcoming non-M.G. events of interest
Your favorite garden related story, tip, trivia, or quote
Your photos of anything garden or nature related Photos are needed on an ongoing basis.
February 2013 The Mason Jar
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February 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 Clinic
CJ Nichols
5 6 7 Catalyst
meeting 3:30
Plant sale
meeting 5 pm
8 9 Gardening
workshop seed
saving,
containers,
Mason bees
10 11 Clinic:
C J Nichols
Carol Freytag
12
Pioneer
committee
4:15 WSU
13 14 Pioneer
greenhouse
seed planting
9:30 AM
15 16 Catalyst
Park Fence
building &
potluck
17 18
19Clinic:
Bonnie Day
Cheryl
Stewart
20 21 Children’s
garden
meeting @
Blondie’s 5:30
pm
22 23 Gardening
workshop:
Vegetable
gardening,
composting
24 25 Board
meeting 10am
Clinic:
Lou Schmidt
JinxCromwell
26 27 28
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
March 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 Clinic
training 10 AM
Ext. office
Catalyst 10-2
3 4 Clinic
C J Nichols
Carol Freytag
5 6 7 Catalyst
meeting
3:30
Plant sale 5
8
9 Garden
Workshop
9-noon
10
11 Clinic
C J Nichols
Jinx Cromwell
12 13 14 15 16
17 18 Clinic
Volunteers
needed
19 20 21 22 23 Garden
Workshop
9—noon
24 25 Clinic
Bonnie Day
Board
meeting
26 27 28 29 30
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February 2013 The Mason Jar
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Mason Jar Back Page
From the visit to Ed Hume’s Garden