{"id":16727,"date":"2024-11-26T14:46:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T19:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/?p=16727"},"modified":"2026-04-14T16:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:01:18","slug":"mgvnews-hancock-nov-dec-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/hancock\/2024\/11\/26\/mgvnews-hancock-nov-dec-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Master Gardener Volunteers Newsletter – Hancock County November December 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fall Gathering<\/a> \/\u00a0 Newsletter News<\/a> \/ Fall and Winter Projects <\/a>\/ Winterize Your Gardens<\/a> \/ Message from Co-Co’s<\/a>\u00a0\/ Wild Seed Project<\/a>\u00a0 \/ MGV Book Club \/<\/a><\/h4>\n
\n

Upcoming Dates to Remember!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nov 28 & 29\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0 Thanksgiving Break – Office Closed
\nDec 2 <\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0MGV Advisory Meeting – ZOOM
\nDec 24 & 25\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Christmas Break – Office Closed
\nJan 20\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Martin Luther King Day – Office Closed<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

<\/a>Fall Gathering ~ Celebrating Our Year!<\/h3>\n
\"Tom
MGV Tom McIntyre created this wonderful wooden wheelbarrow for the MGV Gathering ~ Jane Freeman was the winner! Photo Credit: Sue B, Staff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Thursday, November 14th<\/sup> we held our annual MGV Fall Gathering at the Moore Center. It was very festive and a big success. We had about 35 MGVs present to enjoy each other\u2019s company, receive recognition awards, eat some terrific food, and participate in a raffle of donated items. \u00a0We had two special guests: Tori Jackson, the Program Administrator of Agriculture and Natural Resources with UMaine Cooperative Extension, and David Lowe, Sustainable Ag Professional, and the current MGV Coordinator for Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook Counties. We learned at the gathering that David\u2019s tenure will be short-lived as he has accepted a job offer in Hawaii. He will be leaving us in April. Tori announced that Extension will pursue hiring a Horticulture Professional who would be local for Hancock and Washington counties without delay. Fingers crossed!<\/p>\n

See FALL Gathering <\/strong><\/em>Photos Below<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Newsletter News<\/h3>\n

You may have noticed that this issue is VERY late, and it is for both November and December. One of the topics of discussion at the most recent co- and co-co-Chair meeting was the difficulty of putting out an issue every month. We all made suggestions, and the outcome, while not final, is that we will probably put out 6 issues a year going forward. We will discuss this at the next Advisory Committee meeting when we welcome new members and say goodbye to those whose terms are ending. In the meantime, please consider whether you would like to join the committee. You need not be on the Advisory Committee<\/u>. I would also love to have a co-chair if anyone would like to raise their hand. And don\u2019t forget, you get credit for any MGV hours that you spend in meetings or writing. My thought, as editor, is that every member must commit to writing or soliciting at least 2 or 3 articles a year. We will have our first meeting of the new committee, probably in late January, to discuss possible topics and the best times to publish, depending on the season. Please contact Betsy Adams at bluehilldesign@gmail.com<\/a> if you would be interested in joining the committee or writing an article or three.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Fall and Winter Projects<\/h3>\n

Have you put your gardens to bed? Mine is still in the process. Life has slowed down a bit, but there\u2019s always work to do. It\u2019s been so warm that I decided to wait to do a lot of my normal chores. There is an article in this edition about winterizing your garden. Below is a list of typical end-of-season & winter projects in no particular order, with links for more information.<\/p>\n

UMaine Extension – Preparing Your Garden for Winter<\/a>
\nMOFGA – Fall Clean-up – or Not<\/a><\/p>\n

Deadheading ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Maine Gardens Org – Top Tips for Fall Garden Clean up<\/a><\/p>\n

Mulch ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mulch your gardens and especially vegetable beds if you haven\u2019t planted cover crops<\/p>\n

From Maine.gov – Facts on Mulch<\/a><\/p>\n

Compost ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Compost deadheaded material at home or at Chickadee Compost. Do NOT compost any plants that are diseased or mildewed. Those need to be thrown in the trash or burnt. Spread compost where you need to, and collect seeds of the plants you would<\/em> like to spread or add to. Learn tips from ChickadeeCompost<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Tool and Garden Shed Cleaning ~<\/b><\/h4>\n

Univ of Minnesota Extension – Clean and Disinfect Gardening Tools and Containers<\/a>
\nExtension Colorado State University –\u00a0 Tool Care<\/a>
\nKaren Hugg – Cleaning Out a Garden Shed<\/a><\/p>\n

Winter Sowing Seeds That Need Cold Stratification ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Wild Seed Project – Ideal Time for Sowing Native Seeds<\/a>
\nMaine Audubon – December is the perfect time for growing Maine native plants from seed<\/a>
\nA Way to Garden – Autumn and Winter Sowing in Nine Easy Steps<\/a><\/p>\n

Leaves ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Clear the leaves from the driveway and walkways, but consider leaving some of the leaves for overwintering pollinators.<\/p>\n

XERCES.org\/blog\u00a0 – Leave the Leaves<\/a>
\nUSDA.gov – This Fall Leave the Leaves<\/a>
\nNWF (National Wildlife Federation) – Tips for Leaving the Leaves<\/a><\/p>\n

Start a Leaf Mold Bin ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Think of Leaf mold as simply leaf-only compost, but it\u2019s not the same thing. Compost is produced by bacterial decomposition. Leaf mold is produced by fungal decomposition. It is a great soil amendment and can be used as a potting medium. It is not a fast process. It can take a year or two, depending on weather conditions.<\/p>\n

Rewilding Magazine – How to Make Leaf Mold<\/a><\/p>\n

Delay Collecting Evergreens ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hold off on gathering evergreen boughs for holiday decorations until after the trees have experienced at least three consecutive nights of temperatures at 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help ensure the needles remain attached longer.\u00a0 UMaine Extension Video <\/a><\/p>\n

UMaine Extension Maine Home Garden News – Nov 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Plant Garlic ~<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Start
Starting a Brush Pile – Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Long – UMaine Extension<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I recently learned from Dorcas Carrow of Sweet Haven Farm that she always plants her garlic on Veterans\u2019 Day. It should always be cold enough by then to avoid early sprouting, and she can always remember the date. That\u2019s my plan this year. PS \u2013 It was still too warm, so I\u2019m planting them this week. Hope it\u2019s not too late!\u00a0 UMaine Extension – Growing Garlic<\/a><\/p>\n

Start a Brush Pile ~\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Brush piles provide nesting sites, concealed summer resting spots, winter cover and den sites to a wide array of songbirds, game birds, and wildlife. It can be simple, or fancy like the one in the picture. Either way there are certain guidelines to follow.\u00a0 Visit Maine Audubon – Brush Pile for Birds<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>Winterizing Your Garden – Save Your Soil!<\/h3>\n

by Nicole Gurreri, MGV\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before our garden beds rest for the winter, we need to tuck them in properly! Winter storms and precipitation can lead to soil erosion and nutrient leaching, so gardeners should strive to cover any bare soil in their garden beds. If you haven\u2019t cover-cropped your garden beds and need a quick cover for your soil this winter, try these winter garden mulch ideas:<\/p>\n

\"Winterizing
Photo credit: Nicole Gurreri, Volunteer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seaweed ~<\/strong>You can legally harvest dead, naturally detached seaweed at public beaches in Maine – just collect the seaweed that is washed up at the tide line. At my local beaches, the tide line is usually strewn with a combination of bladderwrack and rockweed. I apply this seaweed in a dense layer to my garden beds. Layer the seaweed more thickly than you think – it will shrink significantly as it dries.<\/p>\n

Shredded Leaves ~<\/strong>You can legally harvest dead, naturally detached seaweed at public beaches in Maine – just collect the seaweed that is washed up at the tide line. At my local beaches, the tide line is usually strewn with a combination of bladderwrack and rockweed. I apply this seaweed in a dense layer to my garden beds. Layer the seaweed more thickly than you think – it will shrink significantly as it dries.<\/p>\n

Straw ~ <\/strong>Straw is a simple and effective soil cover for the winter, and in the spring it can be reused to mulch your pathways and deter early-season weed growth.<\/p>\n

\u201cLasagna\u201d Mulch ~ <\/strong>Improve your soil fertility for next season while protecting your soil for the winter – this is a win-win! You can create a \u201clasagna\u201d or sheet mulch system by layering cardboard or newspaper on the soil surface, wetting it to set it in place, and then adding a 2\u201d layer of compost, shredded leaves, or straw. Repeat as desired and enjoy bountiful, fertile soil next spring!<\/p>\n

\n

<\/a>From the co- and co-co-Chairs of the Advisory Committee<\/h3>\n

We have had our last few meetings as we hiked. We have traversed the Surry Forest, the Murphy trail to Parker Point (and back), Peters Brook, and Harriman Point. On our last hike, we climbed Blue Hill Mountain. We took the \u201ceasy route\u201d. The highlight of that hike, besides the gorgeous view at the top, was spotting a beautiful Barred Owl on our way down; It was kind enough to stay still and be photographed. And yes, we did manage to get some work done on all those walks.<\/p>\n\n\t\t