Local Plant News

Posted on by mmholthoff

Three local events:

1) Garlic Mustard Pull

Thursday, May 10, 3-5 is the time frame allotted for removing garlic mustard from the land behind the Dresden Rd houses on Richmond School land.  If you (and your children) are available to help pull these easily pulled invasive plants, meet the school volunteers beyond the fence, during the allotted time period.  Wear sensible shoes as the ground can be uneven, gloves recommended.  The plants should be in flower so are easily recognizable.  Even if you can’t help pull, stop by to learn the appearance of garlic mustard as we all need to be alert to this invasive plant… we all have back yards.

2)  Hanover Garden Club Sale

The annual Hanover Garden Club Sale is set for Saturday, May 19, 9-noon at the Pine Knoll Cemetery, Rt 10, Hanover, NH. A wonderful opportunity to buy local perennials donated by HGC members and friends, plus many wonderful tomatoes, geraniums and annuals, grown in the HGC greenhouse by HGC members. This is the major fund raising effort for the Garden Club, proceeds going to buy plants, plant and maintain the town gardens, etc.  Help keep the Town gardens beautiful.

3) Plastic Plant Pot Collections

These collections will again take place at Longacres Nursery (220 Mechanic Street, Lebanon) on the 3rd Saturday of June, July, August and Sept, 9-noon.  They do not need to be washed, just tip and tap the dirt out of them.  All sizes, shapes and colors welcome, trays and flimsy 6-pack types also welcome.

Food Preservation Workshop

Posted on by mmholthoff

VINS is offering a workshop on preserving food for the winter:

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is presenting the fourth workshop in its Creating Sustainable Homes and Communities series.  Offered in partnership with Harmony Farm, the series focuses on sustainable living as a community, family and individual.  Those interested in saving money, supporting a local economy and being green when making purchase decisions are invited to join VINS and explore the key components of a thriving local economy as well as the resources within local communities that enable individuals to make environmentally-conscious and affordable choices as consumers.  Participants will discover ways to be more sustainable and eco-conscious on a daily basis while strengthening the economic, social and environmental health of the local community.

Workshop number four, Preserving the Harvest: Keeping Our Food Dollars in Our Local Communities, will be held on Sunday, October 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the VINS Nature Center.  During this session, students will investigate easy methods of turning bounty from home gardens and local farmers’ markets into food that can be enjoyed throughout the winter.
Using local produce, Preserving the Harvest will explore a variety of preservation methods including using a steam juicer to make apple juice.  Participants will get hands-on experience making chutney and canning tomatoes and will return home with delicious samples of the day’s work.

Registration for this session is required by September 28 by calling 802-359-5000 ext. 223.  Preserving the Harvest is $24 for VINS members and $30 for the general public.  Participants should bring a cutting board, knife, apron and two to three pint-sized containers to the session.

For more information about this or other workshops and programs at VINS, please visit www.vinsweb.org or call 802-359-5000.