Jill Piekut is the Garden Coordinator this summer for the garden and Green Thumbs Program.

2012 NEWS on the Community Garden

Background

In 2009, GMCG collaborated with UNH Cooperative Extension and volunteers to create a Community Garden.   GMCG’s Garden Coordinator, Jill Piekut (photo,left), along with Claes Thelemarck of UNH and Master Gardeners,  offered weekly programs for kids and adults to teach about the connections between healthy soil, water, plants and people.

The raised gardens are still in place through the efforts of volunteers and a Greenworks! grant awarded by Project Learning Tree to establish the garden at the new office in Effingham.  Volunteers have planted the gardens, and we invite you to participate in growing them this summer.  The raised gardens are available to the community.   Compost and a rain barrel system are in place.  GMCG can provide future gardening programs, but we need to hear from you to evaluate the level of interest.   Call the office at 603-539-1859 for more information on the community garden.

Kids take part in a variety of activities as part of the Green Thumbs program.

Garden Workshops

Throughout the spring and summer GMCG hosts garden workshops open to the public on a range of topics and featuring garden experts, herbalists and Master Gardeners. The garden workshops begin in May when Tina Savage, Extension Educator of Agricultural Resources, leads a workshop on soil.  If you are interested in this activity, please call GMCG at 603-539-1859 so we can gauge the level of interest.

Tina demonstrats soil sampling and how to use the testing results.  Soil testing involves chemical treatment of a soil sample to determine the plant availability of nutrients.

Tina Savage, UNH Cooperative Extension Educator of Agricultural Resources, leads a workshop on soil.

This treatment simulates what roots can obtain from the soil to provide fertilizer recommendations.  Without a soil test, applications of fertilizer and lime are just a guess.  The over application of fertilizer and lime is costly to the gardener and to the environment.  Unnecessary lime applications may limit the availability of nutrients.  Under application of fertilizer and lime will result in decreased yields and increased pest and disease susceptibility.

Over application of fertilizers on gardens and lawns can also contaminate surface and groundwater.  The phosphorus and nitrogen in fertilizers are nutrients that not only promote plant growth but also promote excessive growth of algae in lakes and rivers, reducing water clarity and ultimately threatening survival of fish and other aquatic life.  The Comprehensive Shoreline Protection Act, in fact, prohibits the use of all fertilizers except limestone within 25 feet of the high water mark of public waters.  Beyond this line, low phosphate, slow release nitrogen fertilizer or limestone may be used.

Soil testing is inexpensive ($12), effective, and provides the information you need to make appropriate soil amendments.  For soil test forms, call 603-447-3834, or visit www.extension.unh.edu.