UMaine Cooperative Extension Logo
January 2014
Piscataquis and Penobscot
Gardening Newsletter
Practical horticultural information based on university research
How to Purify Your Indoor Air

The chance of breathing polluted air in our home is real. Whether it's old or new, clean or not, your home could be hiding unhealthy and invisible toxins. Without being aware, we contribute to air indoor pollution. The volatile organic compounds are released from household cleaning products, air fresheners, pesticides, furniture, etc. that we use at home, and get trapped particularly inside the house when ventilation is poor.

Photo by Ana Bonstedt.

Nowadays, there are many air purifiers for different prices on the market, which promise to be highly efficient at low cost. This is true, undoubtedly. 

But then why not to choose for a natural and cheaper solution to the problem called: "Houseplants" 

 

Houseplants are much more important than we think. They are not just the decoration for the corner in the room; they are natural powerful air cleaning machines. They are able to reduce indoor pollution by 80%. So placing plants in a sunny location in our homes and workplaces can improve indoor air quality.

 

Plants are able to take in the carbon dioxide and other toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the air. In combination with water and the help of living microorganism in the soil, plants can break down the bonds of these chemical compounds to release oxygen and nontoxic gases to the environment. But, not all plants have the same capacity to purify and remove VOC from indoor polluted air, so it is desirable to combine houseplants that are efficient at removing VOC.

 

The following is the list of the more efficient air cleaning plants and the type of VOC they can remove from indoor air.

 

PLANT THAT CLEAN THE AIR

VOC

Source

Plants

Formaldehyde

Insulation

Bamboo palm

Foam

Chrysanthemum

Plywood

Corn plant dracaena

Clothing

Golden pothos

Carpeting

Philodendron

Furniture

Snake plant

Paper

Spider Plant

Household cleaners

 

Benzene

Tobacco smoke

Chrysanthemum

Gasoline

Dracaena Janet Craig

Synthetic fibers plastics

Dracaena marginata

Ink

Dracaena warneckei

Oil

English Ivy

Detergent

Gerbera

Rubber

Peace lily

Trichloroethylene

Dry cleaning

Chrysanthemum

Ink

Dracaena marginata

Paint

Dracaena warneckei

Varnish

Gerbera

Lacquer

Peace lily

Adhesives

 


For more information related to this article we recommend to visit the following links:      

Invasive Forest Insect Outreach Volunteer Training

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Forest Pest Survey

Dedicated citizens (who shall remain nameless) trying to educate the public about invasive forest insects

Outreach and Survey Project are partnering with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office to bring a unique training opportunity to Piscataquis County.  People - both urban and rural - are invited to participate in this free training to learn how to identify major forest pests that pose serious threats to the Maine Forest and survey for their presence in the field.

 

The training will focus on teaching people who work with trees and those who enjoy the outdoors to recognize signs of the presence of these specific pests: Emerald ash borer (EAB), Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Brown spruce longhorned beetle (BSLB) and Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), their host trees, how to survey for them and how to report suspicious areas. Participants will also learn how to effectively disseminate information to the public to help spread awareness. Early detection is critical and we have a much better chance of slowing down the spread of an infestation that will destroy our parks, backyards and woodland trees.

 

Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project will provide materials for volunteers, loans of insects and sample tree damage displays for this outreach. And a Pesticide Applicator's and Licensed Forester's credits may be applied.

 

The training session on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 (Snow Date February 15th) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will be held at University of Maine Cooperative Extension of Piscataquis County's office, 165 East Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft.

 

For registration to this training, e-mail the following information to Lorraine Taft [email protected]  or call (207) 832-6241: Name, Phone Number, E-mail Address, Affiliation (Organization or employer) or you may register with Ana Bonstedt at the UMaine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis Office  [email protected] , (207) 564-3301 or 1-800-287-1491

Application Deadline Extended for the 2014 Master Gardener Volunteer Training in Bangor

The deadline for applying for the 2014 Master Gardener training has been extended to January 10th. The full schedule and a link to the online application can be found at the following website:  http://umaine.edu/penobscot/programs/gardening/master-gardeners/ . To request a printed application, please call Theresa at 207-942-7396. UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals.

Info on Private Well Water Quality

As we close out 2013 and welcome in the New Year, I am pleased to share with you the first three in a series of free online private well owner lessons developed by the National Ground Water Association with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

The lessons and registration links are as follows:

1)      Testing Your Well Water: What should I test for? http://login.icohere.com/registration/register.cfm?reg=796&evt=Water-Testing1

2)      Testing Your Well Water: Getting a Test, Interpreting Results http://login.icohere.com/registration/register.cfm?reg=912&evt=Mod2treat

3)      Treating Your Well Water: Contaminants That Present a Health Risk and Other Problems http://login.icohere.com/registration/register.cfm?reg=866&evt=Mod3

 

These lessons are very simple and basic-zeroing in on some of the most essential facts that private well owners should know to protect their water quality.

 

Cliff Treyens | Public Awareness Director

National Ground Water association - dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge

601 dempsey road | westerville, ohio 43081 | usa

800 551.7379 (614 898.7791), x 554 | fax 614 898.7786

www.ngwa.org | www.wellowner.org | www.groundwateradventurers.org

Private Well Owner Hotline: 855-H20-Well (855-420-9355)

Benefit Plant Sale: Blueberries, Asparagus, and Strawberries
The Master Gardener Development Board is pleased to announce it's third annual benefit plant sale. Please see the plant sale flyer or visit our website for details.  Options include: highbush blueberries, asparagus, and strawberry crowns (to be delivered in spring along with educational materials all season long).  Proceeds support scholarships for the Master Gardener training and local Master Gardener projects.  Order deadline is May 1st.  
Featured Resources
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Featured Recipe - Beet Salad with Mustard Dressing
Simple, inexpensive, seasonal recipes from Cooperative Extension

Ingredients:
  • 4 medium beets, unpeeled

Salad Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons mustard
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons dill
  • Black pepper to taste

Makes 4 servings

Directions:
  1. Cook the beets in enough water to cover until they are just tender (about 1 hour), peel them, and slice them crosswise.
  2. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl.
  3. Add the beets to the bowl and stir them gently to coat them with the dressing.
  4. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
Photos from the field 



Sweet Competition!
Many Penobscot Beekeeper Association Members enjoyed a lively honey taste test at their December meeting.  The winner is in the foreground.
Giving the Gift of Spring
4-H youth and Master Gardener Volunteers helped kids plant spring bulbs to force indoors at the Children's Christmas party in Capehart.

New Sign
Our new Arboretum sign was installed the day before the ground froze solid for the season.  The trees are still spectacular in the winter, come by for a visit.  Bring your snowshoes! 
307 Maine Ave. Bangor
Events & Announcements
Maine Agricultural Trade Show, Augusta Civic Center - January 7-9
Three day event offers workshops covering topics such as vegetable and small fruit production, farm energy options, use of cover crops, etc.  For more information and full program details visit their website.
 
A MOFGA Chapter in Penobscot County?  Stone Soup Social, Bangor Grange - Jan 11
To test the waters for forming a MOFGA chapter in Penobscot County, MOFGA members and prospective members are welcome to come to a Stone Soup Social on Jan 11 (snow date Jan 25) a the Bangor Grange, 1192 Ohio Street.  Doors open at 1pm, meal served around 2:30.  RSVP with info on how many people you are bringing and what you plan to bring:  [email protected] or 207-745-4797.  
 
MOFGA Online Event Calendar
If you're wondering what may be going on for educational events in the area, the MOFGA Events calendar may be of interest to you.  Check out their schedule of upcoming events on the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association website: http://www.mofga.org/Events/tabid/78/Default.aspx 

Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly Meetings
Meetings are typically the last Thursday of every month at 7pm at the Extension office in Bangor (307 Maine Ave.).  Due to the holidays, November and December meetings will be merged into a potluck dinner meeting on December 12th at 7pm.  Anyone is welcome to sit in on one or two meetings for free.  Educational programs and timely discussions are enjoyed each month https://www.facebook.com/PenobscotCountyBeekeepersAssociation
 
Join the Dover-Foxcroft Gardeners  
Dover Town Building
Anyone is invited to join the monthly group which was established last year to discuss a wide range of gardening topics including:  annuals and perennials, shrubs, border plantings, and much more!  Meetings will be a great opportunity to share success stories, challenges, ideas for projects and activities, gardening tips and creative ideas. Meetings will be every third Wednesday of the month. 
For more information call: Dotty Hadler at 564-7256.

  

Find a Winter Farmers' Market

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry maintains a website where you can search for local farms or local farmers' markets by county or town or by product that they sell. Check it out at http://www.getrealmaine.com/.  

 

Sign up for the Maine Home Garden News

You may access the most current issue of the 2013 Maine Home Garden News at: http://umaine.edu/gardening/maine-home-garden-news/ 

1)  Subscribe via RSS feed by clicking on Subscribe to the RSS feed at:  http://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/feed/
 2) OR, to receive an e-mail announcement when a new issue of the Maine Home Garden News is posted, fill out the online form at www.umext.maine.edu/forms/maine-home-garden-news/subscribe.asp.
3)  OR, like/follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter to hear about updates.

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.
Contributors

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
[email protected] 

Ana Bonstedt, Home Horticulture Coordinator, [email protected] 

Kate Garland, Horticulturist
[email protected] 

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.

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.

Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.  
Penobscot Office 
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME  04401  207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

Piscataquis Office 
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME  04426  207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 
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