‘THE COMMPOST’ NEWSLETTERCLINTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS

Dec + Jan 2020

2019 Christmas Dinner

OVER THE GARDEN FENCE ...

Letter from the President: Jeff Drapalik

It is the start of a new decade or the last year of one depending on how you view the calendar. I am taking the view it is the start of a new year and a new decade. The New Year brings a mailbox full of seed catalogs and

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Ohio State University Extension - Clinton County 111 South Nelson Avenue Suite 2 Wilmington, Ohio 45177 Phone: (937) 382-0901 L. Tony Nye OSU Extension Educator Agriculture/Natural Resources www.clinton.osu.edu

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Next COMMPOST Deadline: February 17, 2020---------------------------------------------------------------------- Please submit items in MS Word Format to Nicole Alexander at: nicolejanealexander@gmail.com MARK YOU CALENDAR: January 18, 2020 Saturday: Martinsville Friends Church in Martinsville

January 23, 2020 Thursday: MG Meeting, Ext. Office 6:30pm

February 27, 2020 Thursday: MG Meeting, Ext Office 6:30 pm March 26, 2020 Thursday: MG Meeting, Ext. Office 6:30pm

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visions of healthy and happy gardens and beds. Optimism is growing as one looks outside past the bare trees and dreams of colorful flowers and tasty tomatoes.

I have decided to try different varieties of tomatoes for this year’s garden. Out with the standard varieties and in with the colorful and unusual. Stretch yourself. As you are looking through the seed catalogues take time to read about seeds that are different. Try them this year. You may be surprised at the flavor of the vegetable or the color of the flower. It will bring you satisfaction knowing that the heirloom you are growing may also have been in your grandmother’s or grandfather’s garden. You will be sharing the experience and the results with someone from the past.

Enjoy flipping through the catalogues and turning down the corner page as you contemplate this year’s garden. Those new seeds may be a new path for you.

Jeff Drapalik

Judy Grosvenor

Happy New Year! MG's. Let's hope 2020 will be a great year.   I am forwarding this information about an upcoming program on Jan. 18th at 10 am at the Martinsville Friends Church in Martinsville.  The program is Heirloom Tomatoes by Craig Schaaf.  I was told he was on FB but wasn't able to find him.  But did find info on Google with his name and farm.

I have called and the church is asking for donations and will be serving a lunch.  Also, no reservations are required but if you are going to this,  please let me know so I can give a count.  Tony has said this will count as advance educational hours

Minutes: Clinton County Master Gardeners Association. November 20, 2019 from 6:30 pm – 7:30pmIn Attendance: Judy Grosvenor, Tony Nye, Connie Hardie, Debbie Tong, Jeff Drapalik, Beverly Drapalik, Nicole Alexander and Ann Kuehn

Tony Nye Report: Wanted to coordinate with someone to go with him on December 5 at 9 am to meet with

Patchwork regarding the plant sale Met with the county commissioner about the budget for 2020. Asking for $150,000 Again, if anyone knows anyone who needs Ash trees cut down to hire a professional. Some trees

have a fungus making tree dropping more dangerous.2

From now on we must register any activity that involves children President’s Report:

Voted Nicole Alexander in as Secretary. Voted Ann Kueh as Vice President We will try to get Joe Boggs to do a talk about invasive species for a public education talk Christmas Dinner is scheduled for December 13th at 7:30 at the Denver General. Gift giving is

optionalCoordinator Report (Judy): Urns were planted today. We finished our first Habitat home for the year. Natorps gave us a 20% discount and $100 off. Nicole and I went to the Friendsgiving Dinner held by the Habitat For Humanity group. Clinton Co.

MGV were recognized for our participation with them. The next Habitat house is just getting started and should be ready in the spring December 13th is the deadline to put in your volunteer hours online. Judy attended the State Conference that was on November 8, 2019. Next year the conference

will be on September 11 + 12th, 2020 Hosted by Cuyahoga Co. 48,000 lbs of food was grown thru “Grow Food Ohio” this year. 19,000 lbs. were in Franklin Co alone Most programs promoted diversity. Went to the Fern talk and the Tree bug talk by Joe Boggs. Enjoyed all

the programs immensely. There is an Advanced Herb Program which is 12 educational classes / year from February 20 thru

November 20. The cost is $225. Contact Susan Liechty @ 740-816-0032. It is sponsored by CFAES. Jim Hackney’s wife Lois Ann passed away on November 16. We are donating $50 to the New Adult

Readers c/o Clinton Co Library in lieu of flowers Dues are still $10 / year Looking for a “Ask a MG” trainee

Treasurer’s Report (Beverly): $219 went to Habitat. We are doing well. Chef Jamie hasn’t called back regarding the herb classes

Meeting adjourn, next meeting January 23, 2020. Respectfully submitted: Nicole Alexander.

The Many Benefits of HugelkulturInspiration Green and Permaculture magazineThursday, 17th October 2013

Hugelkultur are no-dig raised beds with a difference. They

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hold moisture, build fertility, maximize surface volume and are great spaces for growing fruit, vegetables and herbs.

Hugelkultur, pronounced Hoo-gul-culture, means hill culture or hill mound.

Instead of putting branches, leaves and grass clippings in bags by the curbside for the bin men... build a hugel bed. Simply mound logs, branches, leaves, grass clippings, straw, cardboard, petroleum-free newspaper, manure, compost or whatever other biomass you have available, top with soil and plant your veggies.

The advantages of a hugel bed are many, including:

The gradual decay of wood is a consistent source of long-term nutrients for the plants. A large bed might give out a constant supply of nutrients for 20 years (or even longer if you use only hardwoods). The composting wood also generates heat which should extend the growing season.

Soil aeration increases as those branches and logs break down... meaning the bed will be no till, long term.

The logs and branches act like a sponge. Rainwater is stored and then released during drier times. Actually, you may never need to water your hugel bed again after the first year (except during long term droughts).

Sequester carbon into the soil.

On a sod lawn Sepp Holzer (hugelkultur expert) recommends cutting out the sod, digging a one foot deep trench and filling the trench with logs and branches. Then cover the logs with the upside-down turf. On top of the turf add grass clippings, seaweed, compost, aged manure, straw, green leaves, mulch, etc... 

Sepp Holzer recommends steep hugel beds to avoid compaction from increased pressure over time. Steep beds mean more surface area in your garden for plants and the height makes easy harvesting. The greater the mass, the greater the water-retention benefits.

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Straw bale gardens require less soil, less water and hold heat. As the straw breaks down nutrients feed the plants. Combining a straw surround with a hugel interior, topped by lasagna layering is an excellent idea for an area with poor quality soil.Sheet mulching (lasagna gardening) is like composting in place. Above: just a suggestion as to sheet mulching layers. Nitrogen-rich material such as fresh grass clippings or green leaves put right on the

hugelkultur wood would help jump start the composting process. Could also include seaweed, straw, dead leaves, leaf mold, etc...

The first year of break down means the wood (and fungi) steal a lot of the nitrogen out of the surrounding environment, so adding nitrogen during the first year or planting crops that add nitrogen to the soil (like legumes) or planting species with minimal nitrogen requirements is necessary, unless there is plenty of organic material on top of the wood. After the wood absorbs nitrogen to its fill, the wood will start to break down and start to give nitrogen back in the process. In the end you will be left with a

beautiful bed of nutrient rich soil.

Tree types that work well in hugelkultur:

Hardwoods break down slowly and therefore your hugel bed will last longer, hold water for more years and add nutrients for more years. But softwoods are acceptable as well, a softwood bed will just disintegrate quicker. Mixing woods with softwoods and branches on top, to give off nutrients first, and hardwoods on bottom, sounds like a plan if you have access to multiple types of wood. Yet the newly decomposing softwoods at top will eat up a lot of nitrogen at first, so compensate for that.

Woods that work best:Alders, apple, aspen, birch, cottonwood, maple, oak, poplar, willow (make sure it is dead or it will sprout).

Trees types that work okay:Black cherry (use only rotted), camphor wood (well-aged), cedar/juniper/yew (anti-microbial/anti-fungal, so use only at very bottom or unless already well aged. Cedar should be broken down before new plant roots reach it), eucalyptus (slightly anti-microbial), Osage orange (exceptionally resistant to decay), Pacific yew (exceptionally resistant to decay), pine/fir/spruce (tannins and sap), red mulberry (exceptionally

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resistant to decay).

Tree types to avoid:Black locust (will not decompose), black walnut (juglone toxin), old growth redwood (heartwood will not decompose and redwood compost can prevent seed germination).

This article was cross-posted from www.inspirationgreen.com/hugelkultur.html

Further resourcesWant to learn more about huglekultur beds? We highly recommend Sepp Holzer's Permaculture, a ground breaking book that will teach you all you need to know! (Also available as an eBook)

Desert or Paradise by Sepp Holzer

Clinton County 2020 MG Projects:We have a list of current Master Gardener Projects that we participate in every year.  Some of the projects we carry from year to year.  Some areone and done, as in being a speaker for a group or presenting an community educational program.  In establishing projects, we view:    Goals - what are we hoping to accomplish.Objective - precise outcomes that can be measured to support the goals                      (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)Description - establish need and benefits, being realistic, clearly identify the focus and evaluation.

We plan our projects to educate, benefit and enhance the community.  Please view the list of projects and choose several that interest you or will help you grow as a Master Gardener.  We welcome new ideas. Many hands and good companionship will accomplish much.

*Pollinator Acre at Nike Center Area.    Contact: Jeff* Elementary School Sensory Garden. Contact: Beverly*Community Pollinator Educational program.   *WIC garden at extension office. Contact Jeff*Area Community Garden.  Youth garden at Wilmington College with Eric.  Contact: Jeff.*Backyard Food Demo Garden @ Denver Park, by walk path.   Contact: Debbie or Judy.*Planting two urns @ Denver Park entrance. Seasonal 4 times year.  Contact: Judy.*Habitat for Humanity:  Work with H/H and new homeowners, Design Front Landscapes & install them.  We need a leader on this, but all volunteers to work. Contact: Judy or Nicole.*Work in office: as asked by Tony/ and hotline questions from public. *Master Gardener booth, once or twice a month table at the Farmers Market, to meet public/answer questions. Contact: Judy.

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OSU Extsion Clinton County11gton,

Clinton County MG 2020 Meeting Dates: The Association meets on the fourth Thursday of each month unless otherwise noted. All regular meetings begin at 6:30 pm.

January 23, 2020 Regular Meeting 6:30 pmFebruary 27, 2020 Regular Meeting 6:30 pmMarch 26, 2020 Regular Meeting 6:30 pm

Hours Needed for Interns: 50 Hours total 1st yearHours needed for established MGV: 20 Volunteer Hours per yearContinuing Education Hours: 10 Continuing Education Hours per year

###########################################################Interesting State MG websites:

The Farm Science Review fsr.osu.edu/homehttps://www.facebook.com/FarmScienceReview/

The Ohio Invasive Plants Council (OIPC) www.oipc.info

Ohio State MGV website: mastergardener.osu.edu/home

Ohio MG Volunteer system sign in: https://ohio.volunteersystem.org OSUE’s ‘Buckeye Yard and Garden on Line http://bygl.osu.edu/ and http://vegnet.osu.edu

Join us at https://www.facebook.com/clintoncountymastergardeners

Fayette Co. MGV 2020 Sponsor a Pot Program

https://mastergardener.osu.edu/news/fayette%E2%80%99s-mgv-sponsor-pot-program-grew-2019

To learn more about pollinators and pollinator plants, consult these resources:

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: xerces.orgThe Ohio State University Bee Lab: beelab.osu.edu

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Master Gardener Program - Ohio State University Extension Our Mission: The Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program provides knowledge to and develops the leadership abilities of volunteers who, in turn, enable others to improve the quality of their lives by enhancing their home and community environments through horticultural education and activities.

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________________________________________________________________________________________All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, and disability or Vietnam- era veteran statue.

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