Planting and harvest calendar from Oregon Tilth

We'd like to pass along a great resource for all you gardeners out there. Oregon Tilth created a Planting and Harvest Calendar with recommendations on 45 different vegetables and herbs. Several varieties can be planted as early as February and March.

Another excellent resource is the Territorial Seed Company catalog. They have a wide selection of seeds and supplies, plus detailed information on growing and harvesting each crop.

Also, there are several businesses that offer garden-related products and services in the Willamette Valley. Please see our Spring Gardening Guide to find those near you.

Local groups team-up to offer gardening workshop series

Marion-Polk Food Share, Pringle Creek Community, Willamette University and Marion County Master Gardeners are joining forces to offer a series of 13 workshops aimed at beginning and intermediate gardeners. All workshops are hosted by experts and enthusiasts from the local community. A $5 donation is suggested per workshop.

You can RSVP to any and all workshops by calling 503-581-3855 ext. 329, or email imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org. Address and directions will be provided upon RSVP. See the workshop schedule below for dates and descriptions.

Spring Gardening Guide for the Willamette Valley

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to start planning your garden!

This year's gardening guide features several businesses that offer garden-related services in the Willamette Valley. Many of these businesses also have extensive knowledge about raising chickens, beekeeping, rainwater harvesting, etc. Their advice can be very helpful as you take your garden to the next level.

Marion-Polk Food Share's 2nd annual seed exchange

The Marion-Polk Food Share Community Gardens Program is hosting a seed exchange event on Saturday, February 25th, starting at 10am. Attendees are encouraged to bring seeds to share and participate in a discussion about creating a Marion-Polk Seed Share and Seed Bank. For more information, contact Ian Dixon-McDonald at 503-581-3855 ext.329.

2nd Annual Seed Exchange
1660 Salem Industrial Dr. NE Salem, OR
Saturday, February 25th, 10am - 1pm
More Info: imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org

Urban Farmer Certification Program accepting applicants for 2012

The Pringle Creek Community Urban Farmer Certification Program is now accepting applicants for the Urban Farmer Certification Class for 2012. This is a great opportunity for anyone curious about learning to garden in the urban setting.

Michigan woman faces jail time for planting a vegetable garden in her front yard

Can you imagine going to jail for planting a vegetable garden? Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan is facing 93 days in jail for doing just that--- installing a small, attractive vegetable garden in her front yard.

WXYZ television in Detroit reported on this story last week:

Visit Julie's blog at www.oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com.

Community garden plots available in the Mid-Willamette Valley

Several community gardens associated with Marion-Polk Food Share have rental plots available for the 2011 growing season. Prices and plot sizes vary. Visit the Marion-Polk Food Share website for a list of garden locations and availability, plus contact info for each garden.

Marion-Polk Food Share partners with volunteers, church groups, and other organizations to operate over 30 community gardens in Marion and Polk Counties. These gardens produce food for distribution at local pantries, as well as the gardeners who cultivate the soil.

For more information, contact Food Share's garden coordinator, Ian Dixon-McDonald.

Ian Dixon-McDonald
Community Gardens Director
503-581-3855 x329
imcdonald@marionpolkfoodshare.org

Capital City Coop & Garden Tour scheduled for June 19th

This event is Salem's first coop tour. Now that chickens are good-and-legal within Salem city limits, Friends of Salem Saturday Market and Chickens In The Yard are organizing the tour to expose area residents to some of Salem's most attractive chicken coops and gardens.

Upcoming plant sale and plant exchange in Salem

There are two upcoming events in Salem that every home-gardener should try to attend.

McKay High School will be hosting a plant sale to raise money for their horticulture class. This is a great opportunity to purchase seedlings and flowers for your garden and support a worthwhile program at the same time.

Cesar Chavez celebration benefits garden at Woodburn's Valor Middle School

by Nate Rafn

This year's César Chávez Commemoration Service Day, sponsored by the Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN), was held in a grassy field at Valor Middle School in Woodburn.

Online poll results for home gardening in the Willamette Valley

by Nate Rafn

Last week we asked our readers if they plan to cultivate a home garden this year.

Gardening is very popular in the Willamette Valley. The climate is mild, water is plentiful, and soil is good in most areas. These favorable conditions allow us to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers, and trees.

The following poll results show that the majority of our readers grow gardens, along with many of their friends and neighbors. It also shows that they're interested in a variety of garden projects that significantly reduce waste and increase self-sufficiency. Here are the results:

Gardening classes in Salem

Related Links

Spring Gardening Guide

www.livingcultureonline.blogspot.com

Marion-Polk Food Share Community Gardens Program

www.youtube.com

Pringle Creek Community Blog

www.pringlecreekcommunity.blogspot.com

Marion-Polk Food Share introduces new director of community gardens

The Mid-Willamette Valley's regional food bank, known as Marion-Polk Food Share, has hired Ian Dixon-McDonald to lead the community gardens program.

Dixon-McDonald was raised in Polk County, and has lived in Monmouth, Corvallis, and Eugene. He earned a Masters degree in Sustainable Communities from Northern Arizona University.

Dixon-McDonald is taking-on a program that has grown tremendously in the last six years under the guidance of Jordan Blake. Marion-Polk Food Share is currently associated with over 50 gardens in the Mid-Willamette Valley. In 2010, the gardens collectively produced more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce for local food pantries and participating families.

Visit Food Share's sustainable gardens page to learn more about the program and how you can get involved.

Local groups team-up to offer urban agriculture classes

Posted by Nate Rafn

I spoke with a few people at Pringle Creek yesterday about their new Urban Farmer Certification program. Starting in January 2011, Pringle Creek will join Friends of Salem Saturday Market, OSU Master Gardener Program, and area farmers to teach a ten-month course on growing food in urban settings. Students will learn about garden planning, seeds, insects, composting, etc.

For more information on this great program, visit the Pringle Creek Community blog.

Note: Living Culture plans to cover this story in the coming months. Stay tuned!

Pringle Creek and Food Share
from the Living Culture Archive

Autumn-beauty in the garden.

Beets, ready for harvest.

Cherry and pussy willow logs, cut for the fire-pit.

Bright red leaves of the blueberry bush.

Dried tassels on corn stalks.

Seedless grapes at their peak of ripeness.

Green Tomatoes

Will our green tomatoes ever ripen?

I spoke to a woman yesterday who, in a kind effort to solve my problem, suggested removing all but one of the leaves on the tomato plant and stop watering it. According to her, removing most of the leaves allows sunshine to reach the fruit and concentrates the plant's energy into making great tomatoes. But I can't do anything to stop the rain. So they continue to get lots of water.

I was also told by a gardener friend of mine that tomato plants should be removed from the ground and hung upside down with their fruit attached to encourage late season ripening.

Any other ideas?

Unripe tomato.

If all else fails, I might try making Pickled Green Tomatoes! There are plenty of great pickling recipes at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website.

Mark Wigg's garden and greenhouse

Urban agriculture with Mark Wigg