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Piscataquis & Penobscot
Gardening Newsletter
Volume 10 Issue 9 November 2012
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Mission
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine, with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives. |
| Goal
The goal of the Piscataquis & Penobscot Gardening Newsletter is to provide timely information on practical, sustainable, research-based horticultural practices, tools and techniques which will improve home gardening success in our two counties. Upcoming events and programs of interest will also be included.
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Find Penobscot County Extension on Facebook
Find Piscataquis County Extension on Facebook
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November is the Month to...
- Reflect on the gardening season. While it's fresh in
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fall blooming native witch-hazel
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your head, jot down notes about what worked well, what needs improvement, and goals for next season. Now is a good time to draw a rough map of where things were in your garden so you can have something to refer to next spring. - Construct a compost bin. November and December are big months for accumulating food scraps - be ready to compost!
- Build raised beds. Think of the jump start you'll have next year. Makes a great gift for the upcoming holidays.
- Store produce in the proper location. Extension's Vegetables and Fruits for Health Series contains specific storage information for different crops in addition to recipes, nutrition, a preparation information.
- Plant garlic. If you didn't have time in October, it's not too late! Be sure to purchase your "seed" garlic from a reputable source with disease-free stock. A few major garlic diseases have recently appeared in Maine that are devastating to both commercial and home garlic production. When the ground freezes, cover newly planted garlic with a thick layer of straw, shredded leaves, or fir boughs.
- Stock up on locally grown root crops at your farmers market. Roasted vegetables and hearty soups are a great addition to any winter meal. If you still have root crops in your garden, harvest only what you need and flag where to find them under the snow for a super sweet winter harvest.
- Buy additional spring bulbs to force indoors.
- Dig a hole for your living Christmas tree and store the soil from the hole in buckets in your basement or garage. Don't wait until January to try to prepare a home for your tree! View our archived December 2010 newsletter to learn more.
- Clean garden tools and wipe them down with an oily cloth.
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 Piscataquis County Welcomes New Home Horticulture Program Aide Ana Bonstedt
Ana will be coordinating the Master Gardener Program in Piscataquis County working under Extension Professor Donna Coffin. "This is a new position for Extension," Coffin said. "Ana's title is a reflection of Extension's desire to serve as a resource to the growing number of home gardeners. In addition to putting together proactive programs for those gardeners, Ana will be available to answer gardening questions and provide help solving gardening problems.
Bonstedt is from Peru. She and her husband moved from Florida to Maine last year. She studied at the National University of Piura in Peru and holds a Bachelors degree in Agronomy. She says, "The move to Maine was really a great decision because gives me the opportunity to know the northen part of the country and its beautiful scenery. There is no place in Maine that I don't enjoy. My husband and I love to hike, camp, and enjoy pretty much enjoy all things the great outdoors in Maine has to offer."
After graduating, she worked for seven years as a beekeeper managing 2,000 hives situated on the San Lorenzo Valley in Tambogrande (Peru). Under her care, the hives produced approximately 45 - 50 tons of honey per year.
Walter Boomsma, president of the Extension Executive Committee notes that welcoming Bonstedt to Extension is the result of a nearly year-long process. "The committee and staff worked hard this past year conducting an analysis of the needs and opportunities for Extension in our County. As a result, we have realigned resources and citizens will see an increased emphasis on gardening and farm resources to match the growth of those activities."
As Home Horticultural Coordinator for the Piscataquis University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Bonstedt will put her education and experience to good use by working with trained Master Gardener volunteers to develop and manage their projects throughout the year including expanding the use of raised bed gardens and working with the county and towns on community landscaping efforts.
Bonstedt will also be presenting gardening classes on starting seeds, vegetables and flower gardening techniques, staffing Extension garden displays at county events and answering gardening questions by phone, email, or in person at the Extension Office. Gardeners can bring samples of their garden pests (insects, disease or weeds) to be identified and learn what can be done to manage these pests in vegetable gardens and the home landscape. The Piscataquis County Extension office is located in the County Courthouse Complex in Dover Foxcroft, open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Contact the office at (207) 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491, http://extension.umaine.edu/piscataquis/ or www.Facebook.com/umaineextpsp
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Be an informed voter
Did you know that Question 2 on the fall ballot will directly impact Cooperative Extension and our ability to support the Maine Food System and protect human health?
On November 6, 2012, Question 2 will ask Maine voters to decide on an $11.3 million bond for infrastructure projects in the University of Maine System, the Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy. This bond will build a new Animal and Plant Diagnostic Facility for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
A new diagnostic facility would include an 18,000-square-foot building, providing easy access for customers. The proposed facility would feature designated areas for animal and plant diagnostic testing and research, an attached greenhouse, a large animal autopsy room and a secure disposal system.
Currently the Animal and Plant Diagnostic services done at the University of Maine:
- Safeguard Our Food Supply
- Grow Local Jobs
- Protect Maine Citizens
- o From Potential Health Threats such as Salmonella, Lyme Disease and Avian Influenza
- o From Pests, such as Bedbugs and Ticks
If you have questions about the diagnostic work of University of Maine Cooperative Extension or the proposed new facility please contact John Rebar at john.rebar@maine.edu or 207-581-2811. http://umaine.edu/animal-and-plant-diagnostic-services/
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Job Posting: Maine School Garden Network Coordinator
AUGUSTA - This is a half time (20 hours per week) contract position with significant responsibilities for fieldwork, travel and independent operation at a professional level. The Maine School Garden Network (MSGN) Coordinator will represent and coordinate the business of the MSGN in a professional manner. The MSGN Coordinator is responsible and reports directly to the MSGN Board Officers. Responsibilities include program development and implementation, strategic planning, public relations, and fundraising.
Please send resume and letter of interest describing education, qualifications, skills and experience related to above description for receipt no later than 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2012 to the following e-mail address: info@msgn.org with "MSGN coordinator application" in the subject line.
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Volunteers Wanted for Solidarity Harvest
Solidarity Harvest, sponsored by Food AND Medicine and the Eastern and Western Maine Labor Councils, is an effort to fight hunger and support families facing lay-offs and other hardships at Thanksgiving. For the past 10 years, individuals, unions, farmers, faith communities and businesses come together to provide locally grown and purchased Thanksgiving meals to laid-off workers and families in hard times. Last year through our efforts, 550 meals were distributed to families across Maine. This year, their goal is 1,000 meals!
Here are ways that you can help reach this goal:
Dessert Assembly -- Friday November 9 and Saturday November 10th
Times: 8am - 3pm(anytime during this slot, but earlier is better)
Location: 28 High St (Hammond St UCC Church), kitchen
Project: preparing desserts to be put into meals
Sort Preparation-- Tuesday November 13th - Thursday November 15th
Times: 10am - 5pm each day
Location: 20 Ivers St (Solidarity Center)
Projects: washing and sorting produce, preparing bags, sorting stuffing, setting up for weekend sort
SORTING DAYS! - Friday November 16th - Monday November 19th
Times: 8am - 6pm each day. Our biggest needs are all day Friday and Saturday in the morning (8am-12)
Location: 20 Ivers St (Solidarity Center) Projects: carrying produce to hall from basement, helping sort produce, carrying full bags back to basement, helping load trucks
Final truck and clean up -- Tuesday November 20th
Times: 8am - 10am
Location: 20 Ivers St (Solidarity Center)
Project: Loading final 150 baskets onto semi truck, help with Solidarity Center clean up Contact Agriculture Organizer, Erin Sweeney for more information. 207-989-5860 or erin@foodandmedicine.org
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 Dover Cove Market Place
Dover Cove Market Place, is a non-profit, online farmer's market, formed to provide farmers, farm producers, and farm consumers, in southern Piscataquis, northern Penobscot, and eastern Somerset counties; with a place to conveniently buy and sell local farm produce throughout the year. The market is located online, at www.harvesttomarket.com.
The Dover Cove Market Place link, will be "live" next week, at harvesttomarket.com, with information regarding customer policies, and farm/producer rules. The market works like this: Customers will place their orders, via "pre-buy" (meaning orders are paid for when they are placed) from Saturday morning, at 10AM, through 7am Friday, each week. When the market closes Friday morning, farmers/producers will prepare orders for delivery, on Saturday. The weekly pick-up and drop off site, is located at the Center Theatre, 20 East Main St, in Dover-Foxcroft. Farm/Producer drop off will be from 9:30am until 10am, and customers may pick up their orders from 10am until noon, on Saturday.
There is no initial cost to farmers who want to join, fees are based on sales, and are set at 15% of sales. This percentage covers: transaction and software maintenance fees, marketing, and administration. The market is scheduled to open Saturday, November 17th for deliveries on Saturday November 25th. A workshop for farmers/producers to set up their web pages, will be held on Thursday November 15th, at the Penquis Higher Learning Center, computer lab, located at 50 Mayo St, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine. For more information, or to join the market as a customer or farm producer, please contact Jackie Robinson at 415-264-4560, or via email at jackieblue750@yahoo.com.
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Events
November 7 - Garden Weeds... Identification and Management
6 pm to 8:30 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office. Part of the You Can series with the Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative. Cost $5. Sign up through PVAEC
November 10 & 11 - Maine Harvest Festival
Celebrating Farm Fresh - Bangor Civic Center, Bangor FMI http://maineharvestfestival.com/
November 13th, 6pm - Penobscot County Master Gardener Potluck
Penobscot County Master Gardener Volunteers are invited to celebrate another successful season of volunteerism at the Extension office in Bangor. Please bring a dish to share.
November 17 - Maine Equine Health Education Conference
Pineland Farms, New Gloucester. Featured speaker is Dr. Mary Rose Paradis, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University. FMI
http://umaine.edu/livestock/equine/horse-conf/November 28 - Farm to Cafeteria 7 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. Round table discussion on getting more local foods into area schools. FMI contact Zoe.Hastings@foodcorps.org or call 207-942-7396. Hosted by the Maine Highlands Farmers and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
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Edited by:
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Assistant
Contact Info
Donna R. Coffin, Extension Educator
207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
and
Katherine Garland, Horticulturist
207-942-7396 or in Maine 1-800- 287-1485
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran's status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University System. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. A member of the University of Maine System.
Information in this newsletter is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this newsletter. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.
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SURFACE MAIL RECIPIENTS CAN CONTACT THEIR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WHEN WEB LINKS ARE INCLUDED IN AN ARTICLE.
Piscataquis County Office 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
165 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Penobscot County Office 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
307 Maine Avenue Bangor, ME 04401
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