|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1) OCTOBER IS THE MONTH TO....
- Find a perfect apple for any occasion. Check out the user-friendly New England Apple Finder to view pictures of over 100 varieties grown in our region along with information about taste, usage, history, harvest time, and parentage. This is way too neat to not check out!
- While we're talking apples, round up the family and attend the Great Maine Apple Day, sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, MOFGA, and Fedco. Heirloom variety tasting, information on cider, apple history, apple art, and more!
- Plant your garlic for next year. Hopefully, you saved plenty of cloves to plant from this year's harvest, but if not you can always pick up more! See our Extension Bulletin #2063, Growing Hardneck Garlic in Your Maine Garden, for detailed information.
- Plant those spring-flowering bulbs! Plan now to end the winter season ahead with splashes of color and get yourself excited about next season. See this month's article for ideas.
- Learn how to put your garden to bed for the winter. As part of this process, it may be a good time to think about getting your soil tested. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension recommends getting your soil tested every three years, if you have noticed growing problems in the bed, or if you have made significant amendments to the soil and need an updated profile.
- Read up on how our Rogers Farm Pollinator Field Day event went (hint: we think it was a smashing success!). And make plans to attend one of our public offerings next season!
- Start, continue, and/or complete the arduous, but satisfying, task of harvesting, processing, and storing this year's bountiful harvest from your garden.
- While you're harvesting all those vegetables, consider donating to the Maine Harvest for Hunger. Home gardeners just like you have contributed significant amounts to make sure all Mainers can enjoy fresh, nutritious produce. Thank you!
|
|
| | Giant swallowtail caterpillars in Old Town, ME. |
|
Photo by UMaine
|  Photos above and below by
Jonathan Foster
|  Photo by UMaine Cooperative Extension |
2) Spring-Flowering Bulbs
By Jonathan Foster, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County
We all know it-winter is just around the corner and will be here all too soon. But when the skiing and snowshoeing has started to wear thin next year, and gardeners are itching to get out into the soil once again, the spring flowering bulbs will be ready to revive us and whet our appetites for a new year of growing. October is the month to act on getting those bulbs into the ground, so that they can establish themselves a bit before settling in for a long winter nap. Whether one plants them singly or in masses may be a question of garden space, orientation, or (let's face it) personal philosophy, but watching those gorgeous flashes of color pop out of the dreary landscape next spring is well worth the wait. Here are the classic bulbs to consider and where to plant them.
|
3) Garden Snapshots
(Monarch in the garden.)
(Fairy house at Rogers Farm.)
|
4) Pumpkin Bread
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup pumpkin or squash puree
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Optional Ingredients:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Optional Ingredients:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts....
|
|
|
5) Featured Plants: Mountain Holly
Developed by Marjorie Peronto, associate Extension professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and Reeser C. Manley, assistant professor of horticulture, University of Maine.
Mountain holly can often be found growing in wet areas next to its close relative, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), surrounded by yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and thickets of hazel alder (Alnus rugosa). It can be naturalized in wet woodland landscapes, where it will form dense colonies. You can site smaller groupings or even single specimens in a shady garden spot that offers a cool, moist root zone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Maine Home Garden Newsletter
Backyard Poultry
UMaine Extension educator Donna Coffin and assistant state veterinarian Beth McEvoy will cover poultry breeds, housing, health and nutrition for backyard meat and egg producers.
Workshops are scheduled:
* Nov. 3, 6-8 p.m., at the Piscataquis County UMaine Extension office, 165 E. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft. Register online at pvaec.maineadulted.org or call 207.564.6525. Course fee is $5. The book "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens" is optional and may be purchased for $20 on site. A limited number of partial course fee waivers are available. For more information, or to request a disability accommodation, call 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491 (in Maine).
Agriculture and Food Systems Professional
University of Maine Cooperative Extension invites applications for a full-time Agriculture and Food Systems Professional/Professional I to begin work December 1, 2015. This position is located at the University of Maine Oxford County Extension Office in South Paris, Maine. This position is responsible for implementing educational programs in support of the over 550 commercial farms in Oxford county. This work will often be done in partnership with county based colleagues and statewide commodity (potato, dairy, vegetable) or subject specialists (water quality, pest management, food safety) within Cooperative Extension. The professional will also respond to the needs of home gardeners and have overall responsibility for the county Master Gardener Volunteer program. Typical hiring range for this position is $40,461-$43,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. For a full job description and to apply, go to: https://umaine.hiretouch.com/job-details?jobID=28605&job=agriculture-and-food-systems-professional-professional-i-oxford-county
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.
|
OTHER LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Maine Fall Foliage Report
Managing Upland Invasive Plants in your Woodland
October 8th 8am-3pm Unity Sebasticook Regional Land Trust. FREE, but registration is strongly recommended. Space is limited. More information.
Maine Farm to School Conference October 16th 8:30-4:30 Kennebec Valley Community College with field trip to Somerset Grist Mill at 5pm. $20 Register here or contact rpage@mcd.org for more info. Maine School Garden Network Annual Meeting October 22nd 4-6:30pm Lewiston. Free. Register here
Online courses for aspiring, new, and experienced farmers.
Event Calendars
Penobscot County SWCD is holding their fall bulb sale. Also available for order are compost supplies and rain barrels.
Intermediate Beekeeping
Oct 27th, 2015 (Tues) for 3 weeks from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. The course will emphasize practical honey bee colony management for beekeepers with some beekeeping experience. They'll also talk about pollinating your own garden and making your own honey. More information: RSU26/RSU 34 Adult Education
Maine Harvest Festival November 14th and 15th 10-4pm Cross Insurance Center, Bangor. $8/person, free for children 12 and under. More information
|
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
Milo Garden Club-Second Tuesdays September-June. Locations and programs vary. Contact Gini Goodhind at 943-7772 or Pauline Mullins at 343-2612 FMI.
|
|
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
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Aide
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
