November 2016


1) NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH TO...
  • 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.
  • Do something useful with all of those leaves mocking you from the lawn--mulch or shred them into leaf mould for homemade, sustainable mulch for your perennial beds or a soil amendment if you are improving the structure of a garden bed.
  • Mulch.  While you've got the rake in your hand, don't be afraid to leave a nice layer of leaves underneath your perennials bushes as no-cost, no-frills insulation for the coming chill.
  • Take an inventory of your tool supply--replace or repair anything that took a beating during the season. Then clean, sharpen, oil, and store your tools properly for next year's efforts in the garden.  For more information on proper tool care, see here or here--proper tool care and maintenance can greatly improve the performance and longevity of your investment!
  • Tidy up the garden.  Bring in, clean, and store any breakable garden pots, stands, stakes, or decorations before the snow buries them.  It's easy to forget these items before the first snow comes down, and a little effort now will pay off next spring when everything is in good shape for a return to the garden.
  • Check your turf.  Read up on lawn pests here, as this is the time of year to address them.
  • Save seed. Be sure to know whether the seeds being saved are going to produce plants with the same traits as the "parent plant" - any plant you may have purchased with "F1" in its name is a hybrid and will not produce the same characteristics. See An Introduction to Seed Saving for the Home Gardener for more information.
  • Gather greens for holiday decorating. Other areas of the country have their favorites, but we in Maine love our balsam fir. Be sure to secure landowner permission for cutting tips, and don't be fooled by spruce. Learn more here. See bulletin #7012-Making Balsam Fir Wreaths for techniques and guidelines. 

                                                                                     
Harvest for Hunger 
volunteers pulling onions
(Photo by Clare Cole)
Jonathan Foster demonstrating the concept of onions "shouldering up"
( Photo by Art Shaw)
29# Squash grown by Dan Birt
(Photo by Jonathan Foster)
2) 21st Century Victory Gardens
 
By Eleanore Lewis (Courtesy of the National Garden Bureau)

During World War II, experienced and first-time gardeners in urban, suburban, and rural areas planted vegetable gardens to grow produce. Many turned over patches of lawn to create gardens large enough to feed their families through the summer and, sometimes, to preserve some for winter use. Back in the '40s, people tended their victory gardens basically for their own use and to share the overabundant bounty with neighbors...

3) A salute to Jonathan Foster
 
Jonathan Foster, our highly knowledgeable, friendly, and talented Home Horticulture Coordinator recently moved on from his position at UMaine Extension. Jonathan has been the creative lead on this newsletter for much of the past 3 years.  Additionally, Foster addressed client questions, supported the Master Gardener volunteer training, and offered public workshops. His humor and depth of knowledge will be greatly missed. We wish him the best of luck with his next adventure! 


4) Butternut Squash Bisque 
( Courtesy of UMaine Cooperative Extension )

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

2 leeks

1 large butternut squash

3 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth 2 carrots, peeled and sliced

1 apple, chopped

1 potato, peeled and chopped

1 large onion, chopped ...

5) Featured Plant: Mile-a-minute Weed (Polygonum perfoliatum)
        
Developed by the Maine Natural Areas Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Mile-a-minute weed grows rapidly, reputedly up to six inches per day, sprawling over other vegetation and blocking sunlight. Thickets of mile-a-minute weed can reduce plant diversity in natural areas and degrade wildlife habitat. It is particularly aggressive in riparian areas (land adjacent to rivers and streams), a habitat type that many animal species depend upon...

Read more  here.
 
susan garland
Susan Garland
farm market
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
November 10-Slow Money Maine Daylong Gathering "Capital Means More than Money." University of Maine Hutchinson Center, Belfast, 8:30-3:30. Tickets $35. FMI/buy tickets here. Registration open til November 9.
   
   
November 10-Plant and Pub with Jackie Robinson of Leaves and Blooms Greenhouse. Pastimes Pub, Dover-Foxcroft, 6 pm. $35. Make a planter with various succulents. Check out the Facebook event here or call 564-7433.

November 15-The Global Banquet: Politics of Food. Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft. 7 pm, admission $8. Click here FMI.

November 19-20-Maine Harvest Festival. Cross Insurance Center, Bangor, 10-4 each day. Admission $8, 12 and under free. Event schedule here.
 
 
Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative is looking for instructors to share their knowledge and passions. Send in your class proposal for this spring's session (February 27-June 2) by December 9, 2016. Questions? Email Hilda Roberts at hroberts@pvaec.org or call 564-6525 
 
 
 
 
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 Maine Composts! Week (May 8-12, 2017). Travis Blackmer, UMaine School of Economics, is looking for composting sites willing to open their facilities for students to learn about composting.  To find out more with no commitment, email travis.blackmer@umaine.edu.
 
The Maine School Garden Network  newsletter, a local organization dedicated to school gardens, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship, can be accessed  here.    
 
ONLINE COURSES & RESOURCES 
 
For aspiring, new, and experienced farmers:
 
Are you curious about permaculture? A course is available from University of Oregon:  Free Online Intro to Permaculture
 
Support Maine farmers and eat food grown and produced in Maine. Outdoor farmers' markets generally wind down for the winter, but many communities have year-round markets.
Find a Farmers' Market near you

 Maine Food Atlas 
-discover local food resources and contribute to an ongoing interactive database.

Maine Home Garden News, a statewide newsletter by the University of Maine, is published during the gardening season. I
nterested Maine gardeners may access the most current issue here.
Want email notification of new issues? Sign up here.

National Ground Water Association.  Learn more about water resources and safeguard your family's health through properly constructed and maintained water well systems. Consumer information sheets can be found here.
 
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS 
 
Learn more and get involved in permaculture at Terrell House, a University-owned property right next to the Cooperative Extension building on College Ave. 
 
Wild Seed Project works to increase the use of Maine native plants in all landscape settings in order to conserve biodiversity, encourage plant adaptation in the face of climate change, safeguard wildlife habitat, and create pollination and migration corridors for insects and birds. 
 
  
 
 
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS 
 
Penobscot Beekeepers Association 
Monthly meetings through most of the year.  Visit their Facebook page or contact
 Peter Corwin
(petercowin@tds.net) for more details.
 
Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW.
 
 
Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, events calendar . Find a Maine Audubon Club or reserve near you here.

Maine Herb Society 
Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year.  Visit their  website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.
 
Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday.  Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.  
 
Sebasticook Garden Club meets at 1:30 on the 4th Thursday in March-October.  Most meetings are held at the Newport Cultural Center, 154 Main Street in Newport.  For more information call Ann at 416-4807

Milo Garden Club-Meets second Tuesdays September-June. Most meetings are held at the Milo Town Hall at 1:00 pm. Contact Gini Goodhind at 943-7772 for information. 

Garden Club Federation of Maine's website maintains a list of Garden Clubs. Find one near you!

Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT). Discussions are held at Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter the first Friday of each month, 6-8 pm. DDATT is part of the worldwide Transition movement, local people getting together to reorganize their own communities to tackle three problems: economic instability, climate change, and the end of low-cost oil. Folks interested in seed saving have formed an interest group. More information can be found on DDATT's Facebook page
 
PUBLICATIONS

Bulletin #4174-- Vegetable Snacks
Bulletin #4176 - Winter Squash and Pumpkins
Bulletin #1 143 - Home Composting
Bulletin #4191--Homemade Cider

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 Coordinator

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
 
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
katherine.garland@maine.edu

Trisha Smith, Home Horticulture Aide
trisha.smith1@maine.edu

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.  
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