PO Box 767 ∙ Kenai, Alaska 99611 ∙ www.cenpengardenclub.org April 2016 Tuesday, April 12 Vermiculture and Using Worm Castings in Organic Gardening Presented by Michael Hicks It’s common in California to see large commercial vermiculture operations – the worms are raised in large raised beds, and operators harvest both worms and worm castings for sale. But Alaska presents a challenging environment for raising worms com- mercially. Michael and Melodie Hicks of Grandpa’s have figured out how to do it. Grandpa’s is a wholesale vermicul- ture business based in Kasilof and serving retailers from Seldovia to Seward. Started in 2014, their production in 2015 was about 39 yards (or 23 tons) of worm castings, with a goal of more than 100 yards per year by 2020. Join us at the general meeting at 7:00 on Tuesday, April 5 th to learn how to use worm castings to help your garden! Join us on March 8th at 7pm at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building! Mile 12.5 K-Beach Rd. Free and open to the public. Refreshments. 2016-17 Board Members President & Publicity Renae Wall Vice President & Newsletter Sharon Gherman Secretary & Hospitality Kay Gardner Treasurer & CIAA Beds Peggy Morris Director, Plant Sale, & Historian Cathy Haas Director & Tech Committee Don St. John Director & Programs Ron Homan Director & Special Events Lee Bowman Director & May Seminars Liz Dowler Director & Summer Tours Kathy Hobart Director & Sea Ag sale Della Bridenburg Presenters include Pat Holloway, Master Gardeners from around the state, Brian Olson with Alaska Berries and Marianne Binetti, Pacific Northwest gardening expert. Registration $75 by March 28; between March 29 -April 12, $85. Details and on-line registration at www.alaskamastergardeners.org/. <http://www.alaskamastergardeners.org/> • Garden Market • Lunch • Silent auction • Door prizes • Reception
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PO Box 767 ∙ Kenai, Alaska 99611 ∙ www.cenpengardenclub.org
April 2016
Tuesday, April 12
Vermiculture and Using Worm Castings
in Organic Gardening
Presented by Michael Hicks
It’s common in California to see large
commercial vermiculture operations –
the worms are raised in large raised
beds, and operators harvest both
worms and worm castings for sale.
But Alaska presents a challenging
environment for raising worms com-
mercially. Michael and Melodie Hicks
of Grandpa’s have figured out how to
do it.
Grandpa’s is a wholesale vermicul-
ture business based in Kasilof and serving retailers from Seldovia to Seward.
Started in 2014, their production in 2015 was about 39 yards (or 23 tons) of
worm castings, with a goal of more than 100 yards per year by 2020.
Join us at the general meeting at 7:00 on Tuesday, April 5th to learn how to use
worm castings to help your garden!
Join us on March 8th at 7pm at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building!
Mile 12.5 K-Beach Rd. Free and open to the public. Refreshments.
2016-17
Board Members
President & Publicity
Renae Wall
Vice President & Newsletter
Sharon Gherman
Secretary & Hospitality
Kay Gardner
Treasurer & CIAA Beds
Peggy Morris
Director, Plant Sale, & Historian
Cathy Haas
Director & Tech Committee
Don St. John
Director & Programs
Ron Homan
Director & Special Events
Lee Bowman
Director & May Seminars
Liz Dowler
Director & Summer Tours
Kathy Hobart
Director & Sea Ag sale
Della Bridenburg Presenters include Pat Holloway, Master Gardeners from around the state, Brian Olson with Alaska Berries and Marianne Binetti,
Pacific Northwest gardening expert. Registration $75 by March 28; between March 29 -April 12,
$85. Details and on-line registration at www.alaskamastergardeners.org/. <http://www.alaskamastergardeners.org/>
Division of Agriculture News: USDA Farm to School Update Check out the new School Garden Factsheet: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/f2s/FactSheet_School_Gardens.pdf
USDA released the 2013-2014 Farm to School Census results <https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/> , and we are thrilled to see that schools have been deep-ening their engagement with farm to school over the past two years. School districts across the country doubled their local food purchases and nearly tripled the number of school gardens since the first Census, and they are seeing more students participating in school meals, greater acceptance of healthy meal standards and reduced food waste because of it. To find Alaska specific results go to: https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/find-your-school-district
Events/Grants Don’t forget to sign up for the early bird registration for the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference by March 31st. To register go to: http://farmtocafeteriaconference.org/8/
The Chef Ann foundation is accepting applications for their Project Produce grant program designed to support food costs to incorporate school-wide fruit and vegetable tastings. There is no deadline, grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis depending on funding. For more information go to: http://www.chefannfoundation.org/programs-and-grants/project-produce/
T&L Foundation for Child Care Information is accepting proposals for mini-grants. Child and Adult Food Care Programs (CACFP) or CACFP sponsors that have a health and wellness project they want to fund. Applications are being accepted through April 13th, 2016. For more information go to: http://www.tlfcci.org/mini-grants-2016.html
Alaska Bee Registration Reminder
Spring is almost here and it is time to start thinking about Bee hives and honey.
In accordance with Alaska Law AS 03.47.030 & 11 ACC 35.010 – 35.020)
“ALL” Bees must be registered in the State of Alaska.
Why is it important to register your bees? This information allows the division to
respond in-case of an outbreak of Foulbrood or any other bee related diseases.
If an outbreak or suspicion of a diseased hive is reported, the division will take
a sample and have it tested.
The registration form is now available online at the Division of Agriculture web-
site dnr.alaska.gov/ag/. Under the “Programs” title you will see a category titled
“Inspection Services”, there you will find “Bee Registration” to directly access
the application.
When you open the application online, you can type your information straight
into the application. When you have completed the form, click “Save As” to
save for your own records. If you choose to email the document in, simply click
on the “Email” button at the top of the application, and if you are using Outlook or something similar (a “desktop application”), it will automatically fill out
the necessary information and attach your application. If you are using “Internet Email” you will need to copy [email protected] into the “To” line,
and attach your application. Hard copies of the application are also available and accepted at the Division at: Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn High-
way, Suite 12, Palmer, AK 99645, phone: 745-7200, fax: 745-7112. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Alaska-Grown Source Book
The 2016-2017 Alaska Grown Source Book to go online!
Future editions of the Source Book will now be digital which means you can update your information
and be added ANYTIME during the year. To check out the digital version go to: http://dnr.alaska.gov/ag/
sourcebook/sourcebookindex2014.html.
Remaining 2014-2015 Alaksa Grown Source Book printed versions are still available on request while
supplies last.
To be added to the Online Alaska Grown Source Book please submit the following information by email to:
Region (Interior, Kenai Peninsula, SC, SE, SW) Farm name Your name, address, telephone number Email
and web address Selling location (including if you are a CSA or Upick) Any additional information (less than
75 characters) Farm products available or farm services offered
Everyone who has previously submitted an application for the 2016-2017 Alaska Grown Source Book will be
automatically included in the online version. If a farm was listed in the previous version of the Online Source
Book, their listing will be maintained and updated by request to reflect their services.
If you have any questions or require assistance please call or email Kim Allen at 907-745-8735 or Jacquelyn Schade at 907-761-3858.
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 4
May Workshop Weekends–
Save the Dates!
Every Saturday in May, there will be at least one gardening work-
shop available to the public in various locations in the Central
Peninsula. Workshops are $5 each, and you can pay at the work-
shop itself.
Here are some of the workshops to
expect:
May 7
Create Hanging Flower
Basket
Playing with Dirt: Evalu-
ate dirt structure
Beginning to interpret soil
lab results and improve your garden soils
A-Z on growing winter squash
May 14
Beginning Birch Tree Tapping
Identify weeds and trees that can be used for food and
medicine
Seed starting to edible food!
Making yard art- concrete decorative globes
May 21
Native Pollinators
Description and elements of organic growing methods
Disease-Zapping 101
Preparing raised beds for planting in hoop house / out-
doors
May 28
Setting up drip irrigation system for an average backyard
garden
Renewable resources in garden and home
High Tunnel Construction, management and irrigation
Watch for workshop descriptions and locations in the
May newsletter. We’ll see you there!
New Local Seed Company
Opens March 18
Far Daring Seeds is Amy Dimmick's new venture, located at Winter Greens Organic Gardens in Kasilof (Mile 111.4 Sterling Highway). The greenhouse
is open for seed and plant sales from noon - 6 pm, Friday and Saturday, starting March 18. Amy has "over 150 varieties of organically grown, variable climate adaptive flower, herb and vegetable seeds from popular favorites to "lost," rare or endangered heirloom varieties." To request a seed list, email
Advertising space available at very reasonable prices!
Check out the club’s Face Book page!
Newsletter layout by Becky Holloway
Central Peninsula Garden Club Page 5
Gardener’s Latin—Echinacea
Gardener’s Latin purpurea – purple in color
Echinacea purpurea
In recent years, coneflowers have become one of the most popular hardy perennials in the landscape, with new hybrids introduced each year, much to the delight of gar-deners. Behind the coneflower craze is the patriarch of the family, the native purple coneflow-er, Echinacea purpurea. This drought-tolerant robust perennial needs little introduc-tion, as its name and flower are instantly recognized by gardeners and non-gardeners alike. The medicinal properties of Echinacea are well-documented and Echinacea is a common herbal drug used to ward off colds and flu by stimulating the immune sys-tem at the onset of symptoms. The closely related Echinacea angustifolia was widely used to treat serious diseases such as tuberculosis and diptheria prior to the intro-duction of modern antibiotics. Whether grown for ornamental or herbal value, coneflowers are a great addition to the garden. Give them a sunny spot with well-drained soil and they'll reward you with plenty of blooms. From davesgarden.com
Other Latin Descriptions for April:
Carnation – dianthus caryophyllus – caryophyllus means “clove-like fragrance”
Jupiter’s Beard – centranthus ruber – ruber means “ruddy” or “red”
Thyme – thymus vularis – vulgaris means “vulgar” or “common”
Sage – salvia officianalis – officianalis means “medicinal”
Johnny Jump-Up - Viola tricolor – tricolor = three-colors
Have you found other plant names with Latin descriptions you found interesting? Send them to Sharon Gherman at [email protected] and she’ll include them in a future issue.
2016 Fiscal Year Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) Request for
Proposals
Alaska’s Division of Agriculture announces the availability of grant funds for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of Alaska’s specialty crops
including fruits, vegetables, horticulture and nursery crops. These funds are awarded through a competitive review process guided by industry, non-
We had a great crowd at our March meeting for Sarah Souders’ presentation on Honeybees and Natural
Pollinators. Sarah is the owner of Sarah’s Alaska Honey in Kenai (www.alaskahoney.com). Sarah’s Alas-
ka Honey offers bees, beehives and beekeeping tools, instruction for beginning beekeepers, and a varie-
ty of honey- and beeswax-related products – all natural, of course!
Even if you don’t plan to raise honeybees, Sarah offered a wealth of relevant and interesting information
for gardeners. For instance, have you ever noticed honeybees bouncing off the walls of your greenhouse
or high tunnel? That’s because honeybees orient by locating the sun and their hive entrance. In a high
tunnel or other structure, if they can’t locate the sun, they’re lost. What’s the solution? Orient your high
tunnel with an opening or window to the south or southwest.
Here are some recommendations from Sarah to help you support native pollinators in your garden:
Leave some areas wild, including native forage as well as rotting logs, bare earth, and/or leaf piles for winter Bumblebee nesting
sites.
Leave and/or create south/southwest openings in your greenhouse or high tunnel so that when the bees fly toward the sun to
orient, (particularly in the evenings) they can escape.
Use natural remedies instead of harsh chemicals whenever possible on your gardens so you don’t inadvertently kill pollinators.
Bait traps with a sweet and meaty combination will attract hornets, wasps, etc. but not honeybees or the local bumblebees.
Try to have an array of plants that will produce nectar and pollen at different times for as much of the season as possible.
Remember that "weeds" such as dandelion and clover offer important nutrients that pollinators depend upon for survival.
Would you like to learn more? Check out these links Sarah sent to share with you:
Natural Pollinators
How to Plant a Pollinator Garden
The Brief Busy Life of the Arctic Bumblebee
Diatomaceous Earth and Bees
2016 Get Ready for Spring Event Recap
About this time of the year we’re all itching to get our fingers into the soil. Although it’s still a bit too early to actually get out into our outside gardens,
the Get Ready for Spring roundtables gave a small but enthusiastic group of members and local residents the opportunity to get a head start on some
of their garden planning at the Kenai Visitor Center on Saturday, March 26.
This event is a great place for our
local club members to answer
questions from beginning and
growing gardeners and to spread
the word about CPGC. We en-
joyed the day and hope to have
some of our attendees join us at
future monthly meetings!
The event was a roomful of mini-workshops on a variety of gardening topics and activities including beekeeping, starting seeds, garden planning,
Sea-Ag fertilizer, pest control, tub gardening, high tunnels, growing perennials, and seed catalogs.
Total Amount Remitted: Please read and sign below:
I understand that all orders MUST be picked up between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Snug Harbor Seafoods parking lot, located at Mile 14.5 K-Beach Road, Kenai, AK. Any unclaimed product will be donated to a local community garden project to be determined by the CPGC.
____________________________________________ ________________________ Signature Date
Questions? Contact: Della Bridenburg, (907) 776-3908 or e-mail [email protected]