Luscher Farm

 

March 2013  

 

Ribbon

Hi Community Gardeners!

 

I hope you enjoy receiving these monthly newsletters. If you do not want to receive these anymore, please feel free to click "unsubscribe" at the top of this email or on the bottom where it says "Safe Unsubscribe."

 

Please plan to attend one of the required 2013 Orientation Meetings below: 

 

Returning gardeners must attend one of the following meetings at the West End Building, 4101 Kruse Way.

10-11a    Sa  2/23

10-11a    Sa  3/2

7-8p        Th   3/7

7-8p        Th   3/14

 

New gardeners meetings will be held at Luscher Farm, at 125 Rosemont Road.

1:30-3:30p    Sa   2/23

1:30-3:30p    Sa   3/2

 

Karen Davis

Luscher Farm Coordinator
503-638-0376

                                                      

 

                         

                                                      

 

      

                        

 

                          Things To Do This Month

 

      • Start planting dahlias after the middle of the month.
      • Think about building a box to grow your radishes, carrots and other root vegetables in.  Simply dig down a couple of feet, put down a metal screen four feet wider than your box (screen should have small holes so no critters can get in), put up the walls, bend the screen up along the walls, refill the new bed.  You might want to throw in some nice compost to get it off to a good start.                                                                       
      • Watch for slugs, they love succulent new growth.
      • Divide and replant summer and fall blooming perennials after mid month.
      • Get weeds now before they go to seed.  It saves a lot of work.
      • Prune spring flowering shrubs after they bloom.
      • If you didn't put some lime on your plot in the fall, you can still do it now.  The spring rains will help get it into the soil where the roots will pick it up.

GARDEN ACTIVITIES

 

Good News - Garden Help Is Available For Hire!!

If you need work done in your plot this year you might consider hiring Luscher Farm's Caretaker, Brice Anderson.  Brice is available to do projects you don't want to or aren't able to do yourself. You may contact him directly at 503-313-5478 to discuss details.

 

Orientation Meetings listed above.  Make plans to attend one.

 

 

CLASSES AT LUSCHER FARM

 

Make a CSA Share Smoothie!

Use your produce to create a healthy drink that aids digestion and adds energy to your life. One green, strong smoothie every day can help you lose weight and feel great. Recipes included.

Thursday, March 7     6-7:30p

To register click here

 

Walking History Tour at Luscher Farm

LO Park Ranger Ben leads a tour and history chat about the farm and interesting characters who have lived there.  This rain or shine  tour is best for those who are ambulatory.  Parents are welcome to backpack or carry children, but tour is not strollers/wheelchairs accessible.  Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Sunday, March 10       3-4p

To register, click here  

 

Dividing Garden Plants

The more the merrier!  Friends of Rogerson Clematis Collection curator Linda Beutler shares her knowledge on how to divide common ornamental plants (daylilies, clematis, iris).  It is an easy and inexpensive way to fill your garden with summer flowers.

Saturday, March 16       10a-12p

To register, click here

 

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*the class below is not in the winter/spring catalog*

 Cooking With Fabulous Local Produce

Our local produce is so varied, beautiful and delicious. The winter squashes that store up all that sunlight for us to enjoy on our plates in the gloomy months, the bright green kales, mustards and collards, not to mention the sturdy roots, are all ours for the taking every day all winter long, especially if you have a 47th Ave Farm/Luscher Farm Winter CSA Share.  Join well known Chef Katherine Deumling owner of Cook With What You Have in the historic Farmhouse kitchen.  She teaches cooking classes in her home-based school as well as in corporate wellness programs and in private homes.

 

Saturday, March 16       2-4p

To register, click here

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To register for other classes, click here

 

 

 

 

Spring Plot 122 

 

Garden Vocabulary

 

The terms GE and GMO are frequently used interchangeably in the media, but they do not mean the same thing.
  
  
GE (Genetically Engineered): Generiac Eengineering describes the high-tech methods used in recent decades to incorporate genes directly into an organism. The only way scientists can transfer genes between organisms that are not compatible is to use recombinant DNA techniques. The plants that result do not occur in nature; they are "genetically engineered" by human intervention and manipulation. Examples of GE crops currently grown by argibusiness include corn modified with a naturally occurring soil bacterium for protection from corn borer damage (Bt-corn), and herbicide-resident ("Roundup Ready") soybeans, corn, canola, and alfalfa. All of these are larger acreage, commercial crops. At the present time , home gardeners will not encounter any packets of GE seeds sold through home garden seed catalogs or garden center seed racks.

  

 

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism):
The USDA defines a GMO as an organism produced through any type of genetic modification, whether by high-tech engineering, OR long term plant breeding methods. For hundreds of years, genes have been manipulated to improve productivity, quality,or performance. When plant breeders create a hybrid cross between two cultivars, they are making the same kind of selections which occur in nature. Examples of the 20th century breeding work include vegetables and fruits such as seedless watermelons, modern broccoli and the recent Indigo Rose Tomato
  

 

 

 

March's full moon was called the Worm Moon because, as the sun starts to

 warm the soil, earthworms became active and their castings began to appear. March's full moon will be on Monday March 11th.

(Only a gardener would care about this!)  
  
I hope you find these monthly newsletters interesting and informational. They are sent out the fourth Thursday of each month. Please tell me if there are topics you would like me to include in future
newsletters.  If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving these newsletters, please click the link "SafeUnsubscribe" found at the bottom of this email.
  
If you have any comments  or questions you may reach me at [email protected] or 503-638-0376.  

See you in the garden,
Karen
In This Issue
Things To Do This Month
Gardening Activities
Garden Vocabulary
Discover Active Living!

To view the Winter/Spring 2013 Catalog, click here. To register for Parks & Recreation programs, please call the registrar 503-675-2549 or visit www.lakeoswegoparks.org
 
 
 
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