Living on a Few Acres

I think people in general believe farm life to be a tranquil, solitary existence.  Many people after working for 30 years want to retire on a farm or at least on a few acres out in the country.  Maybe you're not at retirement age yet but want to prepare for a life away from the city after you're done working.

That's why the Ag Agent and I have teamed up on a program called Living on a Few Acres.  We want the training to focus on living sustainably on the farm.  In fact, I wondered if we should call in Living Off a Few Acres.  Self-sustainability is kind of a big thing right now.  This program will help you do that.

A fellow horticulture agent sent me this graphic just yesterday about how much land it would take a family to support themselves.  It gets you to think about your different needs and how you might best obtain those resources.

Our program will begin on October 11 and classes will be every Tuesday until November 22.  We skip November 1, however.  We start with a meal at 5:30 and then begin the program at 6 each night.

Registration will be $50 and that covers your meals, a resource binder, and a jump drive.  We hope this sounds like something you or someone you know might be interested in.

Children's Botanical Garden of South Central KY

I hope that everyone living in Pulaski Co (and maybe even some surrounding counties) have had a chance to visit the Children's Garden located at the Pulaski Co Public Library in downtown Somerset.

Yes, it's not new, but yes, it's a delight to walk around in.

Two years after its grand opening, volunteers are still working extremely hard.  We forget a lot of times but a garden is not fixed.  Once hardscapes were finished and plants were planted, the work does not end.  And it won't ever end.

A handful of people make this garden work.  Spread the word.

Redundant Rose Rosette

    Knockout Roses have been all the rage for the last few years.  Even as a non-rose person, I have been impressed.   No black spot (or very little) and pruning?  Prune whenever you feel like it!  The plants will live and bloom and bloom and live!

     However, like all good things, they must come to an end.  Case in point:  Several calls and many rose specimens in the disease diagnostic lab with weird, red, thorny growth. 

     All the Knockouts here at our office were removed due to this problem, a disease problem.  You might say ‘How?  Knockouts are disease resistant!’. 

     Nope, sorry, they are not resistant to rose rosette.  

     Symptoms. This lethal disease affects all weedy and cultivated roses. Earliest symptoms include increased growth of shoots with red coloration and distortion and dwarfing of leaves (Figure 1). Affected shoots appear to be more succulent than normal and they develop a proliferation of thorns (Figure 2). This abnormal overabundance of thorns is a useful field symptom for diagnosis, because the new shoots of many roses are naturally reddish colored. Diseased shoots are not winter-hardy and will produce few blooms or flowers may be deformed. Infected plants produce fewer roots than normal. The disease progresses to the rest of the plant until all the new growth is affected and the plant declines or is killed in winter. Roses may succumb in just one season, or symptoms may continue for another season or two.

     The cause of rose rosette disease was thought to be a virus, but recent research suggests that a phytoplasma infection is responsible for the symptoms. In nature, it is spread by a tiny eriophyid mite.

     Disease management. Infected plants must be removed and destroyed so that the pathogen is not spread to healthy plants nearby. Care must be taken to avoid scattering disease-carrying mites to the other plants. Early detection is essential. Rose rosette disease is normally systemic in the plant, but at the first indication of infection on a shoot, it might help to clip off the affected shoot in hopes that the rest of the plant is still unaffected. Multiflora rose could be a reservoir for the disease so they should be removed from the neighborhood of cultivated roses.

 

 

Pulaski Horticulture is Everywhere!

Spring is springing up!  It's all very exciting.  And so are a bunch of new ways to communicate.  That being said, I wanted to make everyone aware that I am on Facebook and Twitter.  I won't wear you out with posts and tweets.  I will do my best to make sure it's relevant or funny or relevant and funny.  I will do my best to have at least one post or tweet a day.  However, if any pest alerts or more timely information comes my way, I will feel free to share it.

If for some reason the links don't work, just try searching for 'Pulaski County Horticulture' on Facebook.  My twitter feed is @hortagentbeth. 

Farm to School

Since I was getting ready for a Farm to School meeting set for tonight, I thought I would look around at the USDA website.  Their big initiative (which I LOVE, by the way) is Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.  The website also has this catch-phrase 'Every family needs a farmer?  Do you know yours?'  I mean, this is great stuff!

But, of course, the first thing you see on the website is this image of 'your average produce farmer'.  That's where I just about lost it.  Here it is:

It's all very cliched.  The gloves is what did it for me.  I mean, this guy is wearing leather gloves you might see a cowboy wear on a bucking bronco!  Can you imagine all the germs living it up on those gloves?  Gave me the creeps almost.

And of course, for vegetable nerds like me, what's in the basket struck me as well.  Broccoli, mainly harvested in the spring or fall (even after a frost!) and tomatoes and sweetcorn which are wonderful summer fare.

I guess I need to get a life and not sweat the small stuff.

Pleeease come SPRING!

OK, we're all tired of winter.  Anyone who isn't has anti-freeze running through their veins.  Over the course of the last week or so, the daffodils have really shown up and the bees are flying.  So just come on now, and show up, Spring!

Just in time for spring is a book called 'Grow the Good Life:  Why a Vegetable Garden Will Make You Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise' by Michele Owens.  This book is the book I would have written IF 1) I was a decent writer and 2) I had a few more years on me.  I so absolutely agree with everything Michele writes about.  She's got an entire chapter devoted to why kids NEED to get out in the garden with you (or even by themselves).  It so hits home. 

If you are a non-vegetable gardener or still a newbie, please consider reading this book.  It's inexpensive (on Amazon, linked above) but you can also get it on your Kindle for less. It would be great for a Kindle since the book has zero pictures (yes, a book about vegetable gardening with no pictures).

I simply love it and hope you do too! It'll get you in the mood for spring, for sure!

Manure Use on Home Gardens -- Watch Out!

Manures can be a great way to add organic matter to a home garden.  I'm for it.  However, be mindful of a few things:

1. Cow manures that are not well-composted should be used sparingly on gardens where crops like potatoes or onions will be grown.  E. coli is the big deal, and it is a very big deal.
2. Adding too much of a good thing can be bad.  Manure is a great source of nitrogen.  If the manure is still 'hot' -- not well composted -- you will grow a lot of plant but not many fruit or melons or whatever it is you are growing in your garden.
3. Lastly, herbicide carryover in manures is a reality.  Some farmers manage their hayfields with herbicides.  Cows eat the hay.  Cows poop.  You gather tht poop up to spread on your garden.  Bad things can happen.  Take a look at this great publication from NCSU. 

I know this may not be the most interesting subject, but be wise when using manures on your home garden!