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1) JANUARY IS THE MONTH TO....
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- Start planning your garden by reflecting back on the past year. Look through photos and jot down notes about what worked and didn't work very well. Keep track of the foods you are eating now to help you determine what to grow for the future. In our house, we are going through a lot of onions for soups - they will certainly have a spot in our garden next year! Here's an excellent resource if you are planning a new garden plot.
 - Shop for seeds and supplies. Save money by organizing a seed swap and/or bulk seed order with your gardening friends. Consider buying items like row cover now so you'll have it when you need it. Remember to refer to our bulletin Vegetable Varieties for Maine Gardens to select good performers for our climate.
- Evaluate and clean up damaged trees in your yard. The early November snow storm caused quite a bit of damage to landscape trees throughout our area. Be sure to make aclean cut where limbs were torn off of trees. Please note that tree paints and wound dressings rarely, if ever, should be used. Use caution and consider finding an licensed arborist for larger jobs. See Pruning Woody Landscape Plants for more information.
- Learn how to identify the trees in your woods. Forest Trees of Maine, written by the Maine Forest Service, has a fantastic winter key to native trees of Maine. This resource is available in print at area bookstores and is fully accessible online for FREE. Click here for the full book.
- Thinking of starting some seedlings indoors? Check out this seed starting calendar from MOFGA before you dig in. In most cases, it's way too early!
- Grab a hot cup of tea and enjoy a garden-related documentary. I just added Dirt! The Movie to my viewing list. Check - out the tralier
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Edwin Remsberg
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2) PATHOGENS IN THE COMPOST PILE
Adding compost to the soil amends its physical characteristics by increasing porosity; thus increasing the movement of air and water in the root zone. Compost also improves soil fertility by feeding and adding organisms (bacteria, fungi, and other living creatures) that turn organic matter into an available source of nutrients for plants.
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3) GARDEN SNAPSHOTS
Meet the newly redesigned native plant garden in front of the Bangor Extension office! It's all tucked in for the winter months with fir boughs. Thank you to the Master Gardeners who helped with this project last fall: Chandler, Erin, Inez, and Skip!
We would love to use this space to share photos from our readers and highlight some of the fantastic work being done by Master Gardener Volunteers. Please send us your photos and we'll try to fit them into the newsletter each month.
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4) BEET SALAD WITH MUSTARD DRESSING
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5) FEATURED PLANT OF THE MONTH: ONION
by Cindy Tong, Extension Postharvest Horticulturist, Department of Horticultural Science University of Minnesota
 Onions (Allium cepa L.) are related to garlic, chives, leeks, and shallots. Storage onions grown in Minnesota generally are long-day types that require 14 or more hours of daylight to form bulbs. Overcast skies and cool temperatures during the growing season will delay bulb formation. Sweet or mild onions are "short day" onions, and although they can be grown in Minnesota, they will generally develop small bulbs. There are also bunching or scallion types grown for their green and white stems that do not form bulbs. Egyptian "walking" onions are perennial, and produce clumps of bulbs. When the clump becomes heavy, it collapses and the bulbs form roots where they land. They are also grown mainly for their edible stems. All onions require full sun for optimal growth.
Click here for more information on planting, fertility, watering, pest control, and harvesting.
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UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Piscataquis Master Gardener Volunteers Training.
Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from March 5th through June 18th in Dover-Foxcroft. Application deadline is February 19th. Click here for more information and to apply.
Penobscot Master Gardener Volunteers Training.
Click here for full training schedule and application. Application deadline is January 11.
Highbush Blueberry School
Offered January 15th from 10am-3pm, Augusta d uring the Maine Agricultural Trades Show. Register by January 9th. For detailed information please click here
Grow it Right Plant Sale
Highbush blueberries, asparagus crowns, and strawberry plants for sale to benefit Master Gardener Volunteers program. Plants come with full educational materials to make your growing experience a success. click here
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OTHER LOCAL EVENTS
Upcoming and past webinars for small and backyard poultry Click here to access the webinars for free.
Maine Agriculture Trade Show January 13-15, Augusta Civic Center. Click here for full schedule.
Free Film Screening
Growing Local Thursday, Jan 29 at COESPACE (48 Columbia Street, Bangor). Two screenings 12pm and 6:30pm each followed by a group discussion. Hosted by Bangor Area Food Council.
Permaculture Design Cert. Course Weekends April through October 2015. Click here for more information
Organic Gardening Workshop Orono adult ed. April 7th, 6-9pm. Cost $10. Contact: acaballero@rsu26.org or 866-4119 to register.
Beginner Beekeeping
Bangor adult ed. Jan 26, 6:30pm, runs for 3 weeks. Cost $45. More info. 992-5523
Intermediate Beekeeping
Bangor adult ed. April 27, 6:30pm, runs for 3 weeks. Cost $45. More info. 992-5523
Woodland Steward Program
Online program aimed at helping woodland owners get the most enjoyment out of their land. Click here for more information.
Events Calendars
farmers' markets, CSAs, and other sources of locally produced food.
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CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Maine Herb Society
Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.
Penobscot Beekeepers Association
Monthly meetings through most of the year. Visit their Facebook page or contact Peter Cowin (petercowin@tds.net) for more details.
Maine Organic Famers and Gardeners Association Penobscot Chapter Potluck meetings the last Sunday of every month. Contact Galen Young of Argyle Acres, 745-4797 or galen.the.beekeeper@gmail.com.
Brewer Garden & Bird Club
Orrington Garden Club 10am, 1st Wed. of the month Sept-June. Meetings are held at member homes. Contact Barbara 989-3746 or barenaj@gmail.com for more information.
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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.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Erin Thomas, Master Gardener Volunteer |
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
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Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
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