Penobscot County Office, and

Gardening and Horticulture Website

• Light - High output grow lights set 6-8" above the seedlings.  The lights are plugged into a timer set to run for 12 hours a day.  This will provide adequate light for the development of many vegetable crops.   
• Temperature - Dan keeps his growing area temperature consistently in the range of 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cooler temperatures can slow or inhibit growth and warmer temperatures can promote disease problems and lead to plant stress.  

  One of Dan's Cucumbers

• Pollination - Insect pollinated cops, such as his cucumbers and tomatoes, need to be pollinated by hand using a small paintbrush or q-tip.  For the tomatoes, a quick shake of the flower will do the job (as the male and female parts are located in the same flower).  Remember, the male (pollen producing) and female (fruit producing) parts are located on separate flowers on cucumber plants (click here for more info).
• Water - Dan is careful not to over-water his crops (one of the most common causes of indoor crop failure).  Providing too much water can lead to root rot and other disease and can also provide a nice habitat for pesky insects, such as fungus gnats.   
• Air flow - Plants are spaced well enough apart to allow for air to move freely through the growing area.  Diseases, such as damping-off can flourish when air movement is limited.    
• Pest management - Keeping a close eye on your seedlings is very important.  It's essential to catch any problems with insects and disease early, before they become a big problem.  Sticky cards are helpful with monitoring and can even help control small populations of flying insects.
• Nutrition - A liquid fertilizer is applied at the rate recommended on the label once a week.  For young seedlings, a very low rate of fertilizer is recommended. 

• Access-orize! 
• Assistive Technology 
• Container Gardening 
• Gardening with Arthritis 
• Garden Ergonomics 
• Hanging Baskets 
• Hay Bale Gardening 
• Hydroponic Gardening 
• Lasagna Gardening 
• Low Vision and Blindness 
• Raised Beds 
• Sensory Design 
• Tools & Resources 
• Vertical Gardening 
• Vertical Wall Gardens 

Gardening Information Sheets from University of Arkansas AgrAbility

• gloves 
• stretches 
• arthritis 
• back pain 
• hearing loss 
• raised beds 

Sunday, January 8th at 1-2:30 PM, Animal Tracks Program at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Alton

Join wildlife ecologist Bucky Owen as he travels along a section of Hirundo's seven-mile trail system, speaks about the seasonal animal and plant adaptation, and identifies animal tracks.

Meet at the Parker Reed shelter in the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. Take Gate 1 and follow the dirt road for ~1/2 mile to the Pine Tree parking lot. The shelter is further on the left. Reservations and cancellations requested, call 207-944-9259. Event is free and open to all ages. Suggested donations are $4 for adults, school-aged children are free. For more information, visit

www.hirundomaine.org   

January 10-12, 2012, 71st Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center

Saturday January 21st at 9:30 am to noon, Heirloom Vegetables

At the Abbot Memorial Library in Dexter. Tom Roberts, Snakeroot Organic Farm in Pittsfield will talk about heirloom vegetables.  Sponsored by the Dexter Dover Towns in Transition (DDATT.) For more information and register call 924-3836 or dexterareatransition@gmail.com.  

Tuesday, February 7th 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Slice It, Salt It, Stomp It 

Preserve your garden's fresh vegetables for the winter without canning or freezing!  At this hands-on workshop you'll learn the fun and easy technique of lacto-fermination to keep vegetables in their raw state for months of delicious eating.  Mary Margaret Ripley has made over 25 diverse kinds of fermented vegetables at Ripley Organic Farm in Dover-Foxcroft. This program is part of the new YOU CAN... series sponsored by the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative and UMaine Extension. For more information on all classes offered and to sign up for this session go to YOU CAN information

Saturday February 18th at 1pm, 1st Annual Tanglewood 5k Snowshoe Race

Join us for this fun event at Tanglewood 4-H Camp and Learning Center off Ducktrap Road in Lincolnville. The event is a fundraiser for needed repairs to the historic stone fireplace and chimney in our dining hall.  

The race trail includes woodsy, hilly terrain and views of the Ducktrap River. Register in advance on-line or on race day. Registration is open to anyone 13 years old and older. The fee of $25.00 includes hot soup, cookies, hot chocolate and coffee. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.

For children twelve and under we are offering the opportunity to participate in a fun 500- yard snowshoe dash. Children's snowshoes will be available for the dash on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Questions may be emailed to: jpincince@myfairpoint.net.    

February Vacation Camp 

Journey through the snowy forest to Big Pine Lodge at Tanglewood in Lincolnville, from where you will embark on adventures to find out where animals hide in winter and how they survive! Enjoy sledding, art and the warmth of hot chocolate and a cozy wood-heated cabin!

• February 21 & 22 for ages 6-8
• February 23 & 24 for ages 9-13
• Programs take place from 9:00AM -2:00PM each day; after care is available from 2-4:00PM.
• Cost: $65/child for the 2-day program; aftercare fee is $15
• Space is limited, register online or call Patti at 207-789-5868   

Tanglewood's trails are open to the public for hiking, skiing and snowshoeing! 
Trail maps are available at the kiosk at the head of the trail as well as on our website.  Trails are maintained primarily by volunteers - please contact Sharon Gilbert at 207-789-5868 if you are interested in volunteering!  

2012 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School, March 8 at Seasons Conference Center in Portland and March 9 at the Bangor Motor Inn.  Topics include: 

• Legislative Update: Pesticide Application, Notification and More...
• Caterpillar Tunnel and Degradable Mulch Trials
• Making Irrigation Work at Laughing Stock Farm
• Soil Health Management for the Long Term
• Herbicide Update for Vegetables
• Crop Insurance Update
• High Tunnels: State of The Art
• A Virtual Visit to Pleasant Valley Gardens
• Soil Testing: New Techniques, New Options to Better Know Your Soils
• Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: New Pests, Big Problems
• High Tunnel Survey Project: What are We Growing and How?

A brochure with a registration form is attached and more information is posted on our website.  Please register by February 22, 2012.  The cost is $35.00 and includes lunch.  Participants may receive 2 Pesticide Applicator recertification credits, and Certified Crop Advisors may earn 5 recertification credits.  We hope to see you there!