{"id":3408,"date":"2013-04-01T08:00:50","date_gmt":"2013-04-01T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?p=3408"},"modified":"2021-07-28T10:51:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T14:51:52","slug":"maine-home-garden-news-april-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2013\/04\/01\/maine-home-garden-news-april-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Home Garden News \u2014 April 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#month\">April is the month to . . .<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-1\">Asparagus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-2\">Fiddleheads<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-3\">Gardening For Community and Youth Development<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><a name=\"month\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #003366\"><span style=\"font-size: large\"><strong>April is the month to . . .<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>By Diana Hibbard, Home Horticulture Coordinator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Cumberland County, <\/em><a href=\"mailto:dhibbard@maine.edu\"><em>dhibbard@maine.edu<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve all been waiting for April and there is so much to do with cleanup, pruning, seed starting, division, transplanting, fertilizing, houseplant care\u2026. Yikes! I find that making a list and prioritizing the tasks helps me to get things done.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Force branches for indoor blooms<\/strong> while you\u2019re waiting for gardening season to get into full swing. Apple and cherry are good choices for forcing. The closer to bloom time, the better your success. Gather branches and hammer the stem-ends for better water uptake. Soak the entire branches overnight in a bathtub and then place in a vase or bucket of water and wait for the show.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Give houseplants a little attention.<\/strong> Houseplants are \u201cwaking up\u201d with the longer days and brighter light. A haircut (cutting back), some fresh soil, some 1\/2-strength organic fertilizer and a shower are all things that will usually make your houseplants happy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get outside and clean out your birdhouses.<\/strong> Soon you will see your feathered friends gathering materials for egg laying. These resources have great tips in attracting birds to your yard: UMaine Extension&#8217;s <em><a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/7117e\/\">Bird house Basics<\/a><\/em>, Cornell University\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/browse.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>All about birds guide<\/em><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/maineaudubon.org\/visit\/gilsland-farm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Maine Audubon<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hopefully, you have ordered your seeds and have a plan for your vegetable and flower garden.<\/strong> Are you trying some new techniques this year? Find appropriate varieties of vegetables for Maine in <em><a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2190e\/\">Vegetable Varieties for Maine Gardens<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Start a garden journal.<\/strong> It will be a great resource in future years. You can add photos and lots of information that tracks temperature and planting dates. You will learn from both your successes and failures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gather your cannas, dahlias, and begonias, and other tender bulbs that you dug last fall.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Pot them up in gallon size pots.<\/li>\n<li>Water well and keep moist.<\/li>\n<li>Store in a lighted area that doesn\u2019t freeze.<\/li>\n<li>Transplant outside after the last frost.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Your pruners are sharpened and hopefully you have completed your winter pruning. <strong>You can now prune your roses as the buds begin to break, removing dead or damaged canes.<\/strong> Keep in mind, opening up the center of the bush will allow for better air circulation and a healthier plant. For general pruning and more information on pruning roses see <a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2169e\/\"><em>Pruning Woody Landscape Plants<\/em><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Have you done a soil test lately?<\/strong> Your vegetable garden should be tested every 2-3 years to check for optimal conditions. How did your lawn look last year? Staying off that lawn while it is wet and soggy will help avoid compaction. When it is dry, you can dethatch and over seed, then add any nutrients that were indicated in your soil test results. For more information, see<em><a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2286e\/\"> Testing Your Soil<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><strong>Did you get your mower serviced last fall?<\/strong> If not, have it tuned up and be sure the blade is sharp so you cut the grass cleanly and not tear it which encourages disease. Over seed in both spring and fall; it also helps to keep weeds at bay. For more information, see <em><a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2243e\/\">Maintaining a Home Lawn in Maine<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"responsive-video\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Maintain a Home Lawn in Maine\" width=\"1268\" height=\"713\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8x4DCThE5eM?wmode=transparent&amp;rel=0&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pansies and violas are in garden centers,<\/strong> ready to give you some spring color. Put them around your entrances or in containers. They will be a welcome reminder of things to come.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Are you starting some new beds this year?<\/strong> Do you have perennials to divide and no place to go with them? Consider creating a new garden by laying down cardboard or newspapers covered by mulch to smoother weeds or turf.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It\u2019s time to get into your vegetable and flowerbeds ready.<\/strong> Do not work wet soils. Wait until it can be worked. As you prepare your beds, remember you can kill self-sowing annuals and biennials if you disturb the soil too roughly. So be patient. There are free plants that want to volunteer in your garden. Top dress with an organic fertilizer followed by some finished compost. Avoid mulching until the soil is warm.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plant some frost tolerant crops by seed or transplant as soon as the soil is workable.<\/strong> Some choices would be broccoli, cabbage by transplant, and endive, lettuce, pea, radish, spinach, and turnip by seed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p><a name=\"article-1\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #003366\"><span style=\"font-size: large\"><strong>Asparagus<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>By Mark Hutton, Ph.D. Vegetable Specialist Associate Professor Vegetable Crops, University of Maine, Highmoor Farm, Monmouth, 207.933.2100<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"3412\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3412 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"Asparagus spears poking up in the garden\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-105x70.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-317x212.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-423x283.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-634x425.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-846x567.jpg 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-951x637.jpg 951w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/Asparagus-dth-1268x849.jpg 1268w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by David Handley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Asparagus is the vegetable that lets us know spring has arrived. Once soil temperatures reach 50\u00b0F asparagus buds begin enlarging to produce the spears we eagerly anticipate. Here in Maine, it is one of the most popular early spring vegetables, appearing in our gardens and farmer\u2019s markets in early May. Asparagus is a perennial crop, originating in Asia Minor and now grown throughout the world. It has been cultivated for more than 2000 years for culinary and medicinal uses and can be eaten raw or cooked, and is used fresh, frozen or canned.<\/p>\n<p>Most commonly we think of asparagus as being green; however, \u201cblanched\u201d or white asparagus is created by keeping the emerging spears in the dark, preventing the development of chlorophyll. The white asparagus has a much more delicate flavor in addition to being more tender compared to green asparagus. Purple asparagus is also available in some farmer\u2019s markets and as a variety to grow at home. Purple asparagus is generally thought to be sweeter than the green varieties. The purple color comes from the pigment anthocyanin, which masks the green chlorophyll. Be forewarned, if you steam or cook purple asparagus in water the result will be green spears. Anthocyanin is a water soluble pigment that is washed out. If you grill, roast or pan sear purple asparagus, it will retain more of its color.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 250px\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\" border=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table style=\"width: 100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Are asparagus or blueberries in your future?<\/strong> UMaine Extension is offering asparagus crowns and blueberry plants for purchase<strong>.<\/strong><em><strong>High-bush blueberry<\/strong><\/em> <strong><em>plant pack,<\/em><\/strong> consists of three young plants, two varieties per pack, for $35.95 (Blueray, Patriot, Northland or Jersey*) and\/or <strong><em>Asparagus crowns<\/em><\/strong>, consisting of ten (Jersey Supreme) for $15.00.<\/p>\n<p>Money raised will assist Master Gardener Volunteer projects and provide scholarships to those who cannot afford the Master Gardener course fee. For more information,&nbsp; visit the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/benefit\/\">&#8220;Grow It Right!&#8221; Benefit Plant Sale<\/a><\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The asparagus plant is composed of modified stems, called <em>ferns<\/em>, as well as a fleshy crown and an extensive root system. The <em>spear<\/em> &#8212; the portion of the plant that we eat &#8212; is an immature fern. The ferns are the photosynthetically active portion of the plant, which collect light and produce energy. The crown is a swollen underground stem or rhizome with two types of roots that are continually replaced: fleshy and fibrous. Asparagus should be planted in well-drained, fertile soil. The area around newly planted crowns should be kept weed free since asparagus does not compete well with weeds. Newly established planting should not be harvested in the establishment year or the following year in order to build and strengthen the crown.<\/p>\n<p>Asparagus is harvested by snapping or cutting the asparagus just below the soil surface when the spears are approximately 6-8\u201d tall. If you have only a small planting of asparagus, spears can harvest and stored until you have a sufficient quantity. Harvested spears should be stored upright at 35 to 40\u00b0F, with high humidity. When held under proper conditions, spears can keep for 10 to 14 days. Storage temperatures warmer than 40\u00b0F allow spears to continue growing, reducing sugars, and increasing toughness (fiber).<\/p>\n<p>For more detailed information on growing asparagus, please see UMaine Extension&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2071e\/\"><em>Growing Asparagus in Maine<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a name=\"article-2\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #003366\"><span style=\"font-size: large\"><strong>Fiddleheads<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>By David Fuller, Agriculture and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Farmington, 207.778.4650<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"3419\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3419 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"fiddleheads\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-fern.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ostrich fern fiddleheads. Photo by David Fuller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Fiddleheads are an iconic spring green that are a welcome addition to the diet after a long Maine winter. Fiddleheads are the emerging tightly-coiled frond of the ostrich fern, <em>Matteuccia struthiopteris, <\/em>and are found primarily along river and stream floodplains. A frequent question is: how do you tell which fern is the right one? This is an important question since research has shown that the bracken fern is carcinogenic. Three distinguishing characteristics of ostrich ferns are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The fiddleheads, or crosiers, when starting to emerge from the crown have a brown, parchment-like covering that falls off as the frond elongates.<\/li>\n<li>The inner part of the stem of the fiddlehead will have a deep, u-shaped groove.<\/li>\n<li>The ostrich fern stem is smooth, not hairy or scaly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If a fern doesn\u2019t have all three of these characteristics, it\u2019s not an ostrich fern.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"3420\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3420 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"fiddleheads\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-846x635.jpg 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-951x713.jpg 951w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073-1268x951.jpg 1268w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/fiddleheads-073.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fiddlehead ferns. Photo by David Fuller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Research done by the University of Maine has shown that fiddleheads must be picked in moderation or the fern may die. Recommendations for a sustainable harvest are to pick no more than one half of the emerged fiddleheads from a crown, with no subsequent harvesting of later emerging fiddleheads in one growing season. Fiddleheads may be picked by just snapping them off below the coiled head, including the tasty stem, or may be cut with a knife, but if using a knife, take care not to cut into adjacent fiddleheads to be left.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure to properly cook fiddleheads. Foodborne illness symptoms have been reported by people eating under-cooked fiddleheads. Details on proper cooking can be found in UMaine Extension&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/4198e\/\"><em>Facts on Fiddleheads<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fiddleheads are a valuable non-timber forest product that are increasing in popularity in part due to the local food movement. Because of their popularity, some fiddlehead grounds are now closed to picking due to over harvesting. Make sure you have landowner permission to harvest on other\u2019s land, and share this information with those who do pick, so we can continue to enjoy this longstanding Maine tradition.<\/p>\n<p>For more information on fiddleheads and for recipe and cooking instructions, see <a href=\"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/\"><em>Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><a name=\"article-3\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #003366\"><span style=\"font-size: large\"><strong>Gardening For Community and Youth Development<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 250px\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\" border=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table style=\"width: 100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"8\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>In each issue of <em>Maine Home Garden news<\/em>, we include a Master Garden Project profile. There are over 1500 trained Master Gardener Volunteers in Maine. Learn more about the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/master-gardeners\/\">Maine Master Gardener Volunteers Program<\/a><\/strong>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><strong>A profile of two Master Gardener Projects in Somerset County<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><em>By Kathryn Hopkins, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, <a href=\"mailto:khopkins@maine.edu\">khopkins@maine.edu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Background:<\/strong> Somerset County is the second poorest county in Maine with 18.6% of the population living below the poverty line.<sup>1<\/sup> Children in the upper Kennebec Valley of Somerset County have few opportunities for low cost, supervised&nbsp;summer activities or camp experiences. In addition, communities in the Upper Kennebec Valley need fresh fruits and vegetables for their food cupboards or pantries because of the persistently high poverty rate. In Somerset County, 45.9% of children are eligible for free or reduced lunch and 37.3% receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. This exceeds the state average of 26.7% and is the highest of any county in Maine.<sup>2<\/sup> In addition, Somerset County has the highest poverty rate in Maine among seniors at 14.1%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The goals of these gardening efforts were to use Extension research-based information and garden curricula to educate youth about gardening, increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income county residents, and develop youth\u2019s community leadership skills.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Teaching Methods and Activities <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To address the needs of youth and seniors, gardening activities were presented in informal settings with the help of Master Gardeners, community volunteers, 4-H program members, and Senior Companion Volunteers. A Master Gardener Volunteer and school staff member in Bingham, Maine, set up a gardening\/recycling\/leadership development program for&nbsp;two-week periods in the summers of 2009 and 2010. The program was called \u201cHutopolis\u201d and engaged children in container gardening, square foot gardening, recycling, composting, and building with recycled materials. Local businesses contributed free recycled building materials and children designed and built their own &#8220;huts.&#8221; They planted and grew gardens, which they continued to care for after the two-week experience ended. Vegetables were used by their families and donated to the Bingham Food Cupboard.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3425 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"assorted vegetables\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies-105x75.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies-317x226.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies-423x301.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2013\/03\/veggies.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/a>In a second gardening effort, the Havin\u2019 Fun 4-H Club, Somerset County Master Gardener Volunteers, and the Somerset County Senior Companion Program started a square foot gardening project at the Somerset County Extension Office in the summer of 2011 and expanded it in 2012. Two Somerset County Master Gardeners taught the club how to successfully garden and properly harvest vegetables. 4-H members replicated their square food garden at home and enjoyed the vegetables with their families. In addition, the Somerset County Senior Companion Program Volunteers received the vegetables raised by the youth and distributed the vegetables to low-income seniors in Somerset County.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Results and Impacts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Hutopolis project incorporated experiential life skills science education: constructing a shelter, growing food, and re-using materials. Through this hands-on experience, the children acquired a deeper understanding of why community is important, diversity, and other cultural perspectives. In the words of a participating Master Gardener Volunteer, \u201cThe kids learned how to build, plant, and to work with one another, brainstorm, communicate, listen, and develop teamwork. It was awesome to watch the kids take ownership. They had something significant to do, something to care about, and opportunities to learn. I am happy to have shared in a piece of learning with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Participants in Hutopolis returned throughout the summer to harvest, take home, and share their garden produce. They grew cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, corn stalks, and flowers. Green tomatoes were picked and taken home to ripen before the first frost.<\/p>\n<p>The Havin\u2019 Fun 4-H Club gardened in four small raised bed gardens. They harvested and weighed the produce weekly. The total after the final harvest was 278 pounds of food from 64 square feet. At $2.50 per pound, the food was valued at $695 and was distributed to low-income seniors. The 4-H youth learned the basic science of gardening skills by learning weed identification, season extension, and harvesting skills. They learned about the value of food and the needs of people in their midst who are food insecure. They also learned that they could be valuable and contributing members of their community by meeting with a few of the Senior Companions and hearing about the difference they made in the lives of seniors.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a collection of quotes from Senior Companion Program vegetable recipients. \u201cThose vegetables would have been very expensive! I wouldn&#8217;t have bought them. I received potatoes, beets, onions, zucchini, tomatoes, and pumpkins. I cooked and froze some of the vegetables in plastic bags so I could have&nbsp;meals&nbsp;in the winter. I also made pumpkin bread and pies. The small zucchini added to beaten eggs, flour, and butter, and then fried make like an omelet, and are very good. I also shared some of the vegetables with other seniors too. I hope to do more canning next year if I can get more vegetables! Please tell the 4-H thank you for the fresh produce.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<hr width=\"33%\" size=\"1\" align=\"left\">\n<div>\n<p><sup>1<\/sup> Poverty in Maine. Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, University of Maine. (http:\/\/mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu\/?q=poverty_in_Maine accessed February 13, 2012)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><sup>2<\/sup> Children receiving Food Supplement Benefits 2011. Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation. (http:\/\/datacenter.kidscount.org\/data\/bystate\/Rankings.aspx?state=ME&amp;ind=1565 accessed March 13, 2012)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p><strong>University of Maine Cooperative Extension\u2019s <\/strong><em><strong>Maine Home Garden News<\/strong><\/em> is designed to equip home gardeners with practical, timely information.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Let us know if you would like to be notified when new issues are posted. To receive e-mail notifications <a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/gtJGR5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">fill out our online form<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Contact Lois Elwell at <a href=\"mailto:lois.elwell@maine.edu\">lois.elwell@maine.edu<\/a> or 1.800.287.1471 (in Maine).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/maine-home-garden-news\/#archives\">Archives<\/a> to see past issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Maine Home Garden News<\/strong><\/em> was created in response to a continued increase in requests for information on gardening and includes timely and seasonal tips, as well as research-based articles on all aspects of gardening. Articles are written by UMaine Extension specialists, educators, and horticulture professionals, as well as Master Gardener Volunteers from around Maine, with Professor Richard Brzozowski serving as editor.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small\"><em>Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 2013<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small\">Published and distributed in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the USDA provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small\">Call 800.287.0274 or TDD 800.287.8957 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\"><span style=\"font-size: small\">extension.umaine.edu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: small\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April is the month to . . . Asparagus Fiddleheads Gardening For Community and Youth Development April is the month to . . . By Diana Hibbard, Home Horticulture Coordinator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Cumberland County, dhibbard@maine.edu We\u2019ve all been waiting for April and there is so much to do with cleanup, pruning, seed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-3408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-maine-home-garden-news","tag-maine-home-garden-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Maine Home Garden News \u2014 April 2013 - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2013\/04\/01\/maine-home-garden-news-april-2013\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maine Home Garden News \u2014 April 2013 - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"April is the month to . . . Asparagus Fiddleheads Gardening For Community and Youth Development April is the month to . . . 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