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1) AUGUST IS THE MONTH TO....
- Celebrate blueberries! Maine's most delicious (and economically important) native fruit has its own page at UMaine Extension. Make Wild Blueberry Jam or purchase some from a Maine farmer (Value-added Blueberry Products). Thinking about establishing blueberries in your home landscape? Watch this video on Site Selection:How to Grow Blueberries to see what you'll need to do to prepare (spoiler alert: get a soil test).
- Harvest! Check out Let's Preserve Tomatoes. Freezing tomatoes is a quick and easy way to preserve your harvest, and it doesn't heat up your kitchen--watch the video: Freezing Tomatoes
- Share the surplus with Maine Harvest for Hunger. Contact your county Extension office for donation locations or to report your donations.
- Plant lettuce, turnip, and spinach seeds and set out cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage seedlings for fall harvest-use this helpful chart for planning successive plantings.
- Continue to be mindful of ticks. Learn about how to submit a tick for ID, tick species of Maine, tick biology, tick removal, tick management, tick-borne diseases, and see photos of ticks.
- Seed (or re-seed!) your lawn (Bulletin #2367--Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine) and keep up with lawn maintenance (Bulletin #2243--Maintaining a Home Lawn in Maine). Find more tips in Bulletin #2166--Steps to a Low-Input, Healthy Lawn.
- Shop at your local farmers' market! Find one near you.
- Remember to wash purchased vegetables and fruits to reduce your chances of contracting foodborne illness.
- Wear sunscreen and reduce sun exposure. Apply sunscreen products first if also using insect repellent.
- Keep the pressure on pests and weeds! Learn more about Japanese beetles in this fact sheet. Another fairly new pest in Maine is the Spotted Wing Drosophila, which affects raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Learn more here, and watch Defending Against Spotted Wing Drosophila.
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 Photo by University of Maine |  Photo by Jonathan Foster
|  Photo by UMaine Cooperative Extension |
By Jonathan Foster, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County
Well, the time of year has come when the garden is really starting to run away from us. There never seems to be quite enough time to get all the weeds pulled, all the produce harvested, all the business done, and keep things tidy. But deep down, gardeners have to admit, we love seeing the unruly, rambunctious exuberance of something that we've poured so much time into, even if the to-do list remains maddeningly unfinished! With that said, though, we will soon turn the corner of the season and realize shorter days and cooler temperatures are on their way once again. But in the dwindling gardening weeks to come, there's no need to simply dream of next spring...
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3) Garden Snapshots
Photos by Jonathan Foster
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4) Zucchini Bake
Overwhelmed with zucchini and yellow squash? Wondering what else can be made with them? You're in luck because we have a couple of easy suggestions for you!
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Serves 6
3 cups zucchini, sliced
2 cups tomatoes, cut in chunks
1 cup onions, sliced
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
dash cayenne pepper
Arrange zucchini, tomato, and onion in a lightly greased casserole dish. Sprinkle seasoning over the mixture. Bake at 350ºF for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how well-cooked you want the vegetables.
For nutritional data and more recipes, see here,
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5) Featured Plant: Quackgrass (Elymus repens)
Developed by Vern Grubinger, Vegetable and Berry Specialist, University of Vermont.
Quackgrass is a weed worthy of many names. In Latin its name is Elymus repens, but is also referred to by a previous name, Agropyron repens. It has an abundance of common names across the country, including: couchgrass, dog grass, quickgrass, quitch, scotch, twitch and witchgrass. Whatever you call it, this weed is a common problem on many vegetable and berry farms, especially in temperate growing areas. A native or Europe, it is also found in pastures, gardens, roadsides and other disturbed but unshaded areas.
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UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Rogers Farm will host a public speaking event on Tuesday, August 11, 6-7pm. Rebecca Jacobs of the Know-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District will speak to Master Gardeners and visitors from the community on the topic of gardening with woodland plants. Please join us if you have questions about or interest in using our beautiful forest plants in your garden. Free to all, no RSVP required. For more information or to request special accommodations, please contact Jonathan Foster (james.j.foster@maine.edu), and visit http://umaine.edu/rogersfarm/driving-directions/ for directions.
4H Position Open
Part-time, soft-money, grant-funded position, 28 hours per week (June 15-August 31) and transitioning to 32 hours per week starting September 1, 2015. Work schedule to be determined in consultation with supervisor. Some evening and weekend work required. Reappointment contingent upon funding and successful job performance. The person in this position supports 4-H activities through the Communities Central grant project. This position is based in Bangor, Maine. This position pays $13.41/hour. The University of Maine is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information and to apply: https://umaine.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobID=26746&job=community-education-assistant-cl2-penobscot-county
University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Rogers Farm is looking gorgeous! Bring gardening questions, admire a huge variety of vegetable and ornamental plantings, or just stroll and visit with other gardeners from 5:30-6:30pm every Tuesday night. The garden is located at 914 Bennoch Road in Old Town, and is open to the public during daylight hours. Contact Jonathan Foster at james.j.foster@maine.edu or 942-7396 for more information, or to inquire about volunteering in the garden.
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OTHER LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Knox Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District programs: Hammond Street Senior Center Rooftop Garden Tour, Monday, August 10, 10AM-1PM. Don't miss your chance to see this hidden gem tucked in the Downtown Bangor skyline! HSSC will be moving and this may be the last year for their famed rooftop gardens. Light refreshments will be available and HSSC gardeners will be on hand to answer any questions. Free, but RSVP is required due to space limits: katherine.garland@maine.edu or 942-7396.
Master Gardener Tour at UMaine's Highmoor Farm, August 19, 6-7:30PM. Enjoy one of three focuses with Cooperative Extension specialists: vegetables and fruits, high tunnel vegetables, or fruit trees. Registration deadline is August 14, cost is $5 per person, space is limited. Snacks will be provided. Find registration information here.
SAVE THE DATE! UMaine's Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden will host a Pollinator Field Day, September 12. Multiple talks, workshops, demonstrations, kid activities, food, and music. Free event--stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks and in our September issue.
Event 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
Monthly meetings Feb.-Nov., the third Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. at the Thompson Free Library, 186 E Main St, Dover-Foxcroft. For more information call: Dotty Hadler at (207) 564-7256
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.
Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday. Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.
Veazie Garden Club
Meetings second Tues. Sept-June, 7pm Veazie Grade School. Call 866-4564.
Penquis Beekeepers
Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW.
Sebasticook Garden Club meets at
1:30 on the 4th Thursday in March-October, the 2nd Thursday in November and the 2nd Friday in December. Most meetings are held at the Newport Cultural Center located at 154 Main Street in Newport. For information call Ann at 416-4807
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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
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Aide
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor
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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