It’s Still Just Dirt, January 2019
by Angela Lassam

It is a difficult time of the year to get enthusiastic about gardening other than browsing the colourful catalogues. This month I have decided to do profiles of local people who use nature within their pastime. We have many of these persons in our own area and they may even be your neighbours.

I have three more people to follow my previous years’ profiles. My first one is a gentleman who is a strong advocate for the role bees play in our world. The other two are not directly associated with gardening although on talking with them I realised we all have an appreciation for nature in one way or another.

John Van Blyderveen from Holbrook owns a business named Oxford Honey. He has been involved with beekeeping since childhood, working alongside his father on the farm. He decided he wanted to share his lifetime of beekeeping and knowledge of the importance of bees today. He has been mentioned in programs on CBC, talked about by Martha Stewart, and has a Facebook page which is greatly followed. John has been involved in bee research done by the University of Guelph and has a vast knowledge of the controversy with neonicotinoids in agriculture. He has a great location where any beekeeper can source all their supplies. He also has a variety of products using the honey he produces. He sells a line of cosmetics, beeswax candles and various types of honey with his beekeeping supplies. During the summer months John has a one-hour tour on Saturday with a demonstration and question time. For more information on this check out www.oxfordhoney.ca. 

My other choices are connected to Station Arts Centre in Tillsonburg where you will find a great selection of articles for sale. You can browse their display of giftware anytime set up in the old railway station. 

Linda Hawken is an artist who retired to live in Tillsonburg. She has always been involved in arts and crafts besides being an avid amateur photographer. She enjoys the challenge of painting and has learned through various workshops how to paint great watercolours. I noticed her lifelike watercolour paintings of flowers in Tillsonburg Station Arts Centre and hope you will visit there to see them. Her work can be found in private collections in Florida, England, Hong Kong and Japan as well as Ontario.

 The third one is Joachim Knauer originally from Sweden who also lives in Hickory Hills. He is an amateur photographer who enjoys the outdoors. On retiring he started woodcarving and demonstrated at various shows. Joe has received many ribbons for his work. His talent and enthusiasm is obvious from his many wood carvings of birds and other wildlife. He has carved beavers, deer, squirrels, even acorns and sunflower seeds. To compliment his wood carving he has done some wonderful woodburning pictures from photographs taken on road trips. Some are even done in color using melted wax crayons for the colouring.

Joe has written articles for the Ontario Woodcarver magazine and has a claim to a 1^st in the Ontario Woodworking Championship 2018. He has many pieces of his creations and is proud of all of them. Some can be found in the Station Arts Centre. He has a website www.woodcarvingsbyjoe.net.

 There are many people who have extended their hobby and share their work with others mainly to supplement their materials. In the case of John Van Blyderveen his aim is to share his lifetime experience and knowledge of beekeeping.

 It is notable that we can all find pleasure in the things in nature that surrounds us and transpose it into a hobby to share with others.

The next monthly meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on Tuesday, February 8^th @ 7:30 p.m. in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Complex. The speaker will be Hayden Dooney from Norfolk Growers Association. His presentation is on everything to do with apples. For further information look us up on the website www.tillsonburghortical.ca  and check out Facebook – tillsonburghorticultural. Everyone welcome. Join us for a meeting for $2, or become a member for only $15 per year for added benefits.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – December 2018
by Angela Lassam

It is the time of year to find a gift for a gardening friend or family member. The gift does not need to be expensive. With a little thought towards your own needs for your garden you can think of many small items. They will be greatly appreciated in the spring when all gardeners start the new gardening year. 

Many nurseries have an extensive gift section but look to the small area where you will find all the necessary things to help the gardener achieve a great looking and productive garden. This section has fertilizer, insecticidal soap, Japanese beetle kits and insect sticky hangers to catch aphids and other nuisance insects. Another section has seed starter kits, peat pucks and rooting powder (for cuttings). Bulb kits can brighten a home throughout the winter days. For the person who has many indoor plants there is indoor liquid fertilizer and plant spikes.

 Hardware stores have a selection of small hand tools. A pair of secateurs are always welcome. A weed lifter is great and often overlooked as a gift. Small items like a ball of twine, gloves, hand cream, lollipop sticks for markers and a label maker arranged in a basket is another idea.

If you are a person who likes to give a DIY gift some ideas come to my mind. A gardener’s apron with many pockets would be very useful or a bag sewn from flowery material. A miniature garden is easy to make and can be changed for the seasons. A bookmarker made from pressed flowers and a small notepad for a journal would be well received. A birdhouse or insect hotel can be made from various wooden pieces.   

Many gardeners take wonderful photos and friends and family would appreciate a gift of a selection of them. You can buy photo cubes and personalize them or make a calendar. There are digital photo frames you can prepare from your favorites which will give great memories.         

For children to do over the winter you can make up a growing kit of bean sprouts or herbs in a mason jar or plastic tray. A package using cress seeds is good so that they can make a tray and cut it to use in a sandwich. Maybe this will encourage healthy living and future gardeners. Check out www.pinterest.ca/pin/161637074108078396 for many projects.

 Many housebound people enjoy watching the birds so there are many items which are readily available. It is easy to make up a selection of seeds, suet block or bell in a decorative plant pot. A wire cage for peanuts is great this time of year. If you like to make something it is easy to make balls of food to hang using peanut butter, dried fruit and seeds. A book about identifying birds can be a good coffee table addition.

A gift which has been personally chosen is always a pleasure to receive but a visit or coffee chat means just as much to family and friends. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy prosperous New Year.

The next meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society is on Tuesday January 8^th at 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Robert Traut will share his vast knowledge of Bonsai. Memberships are due this month $15 per person. Non-members are welcome – $2 per meeting or join up for friendship and added benefits. More information on www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or facebook-tillsonburghorticultural.    

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – November 2018
by Angela Lassam

We are very fortunate to live in an area where apples are readily available all year. They are one of the oldest and most versatile fruit found all over the world dating as far back as Adam and Eve.

Apple trees are easy to purchase at any nursery where you will find many choices suitable for your zone. After buying your tree plant it in an open space with plenty of sun. You will need to dig a hole 4’ in diameter and 2’ deep. Return some loose soil and place the tree in spreading the roots, add some more soil over them and firm down to avoid air pockets. Fill the hole leaving the trunk above the ground to the graft – a swelling where joined to root stock. Water frequently to establish the roots. When mulch is used round the tree pull it back for the winter to prevent mice chewing the bark.

There are many varieties and they vary according to taste and best use. 

Red Delicious – thick skinned, good raw especially cubed in salads.

Jonagold – a Golden Delicious and Jonathan hybrid, best for both sweet and savoury purposes.

Honeycrisp – newer variety, 1960 US apple, very popular. Good eating apple.

Granny Smith- tart and acidic, good for baking.

Macintosh – most well known and versatile. In 1811 John McIntosh transplanted a dozen saplings found in his woodlot. Only one survived the winter but it became the foundation stock for the Macintosh of today.  

Pruning any apple trees once they have matured is essential to allow for air and light. Any branches that cross others or turn downwards need to be removed and any broken branches cut not just broken off to prevent disease. Insect oil can be applied in spring after the leaf stage but before the buds form to help prevent maggots, fruitworms and codling moth. An alternative is to use sticky hangers in the tree starting in June. A Farmers Almanac tip is to use a solution of 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup sugar and 1 quart water placed in a wide necked container and hang it in any tree to attract insects. 

When the blossom has dropped thin the cluster to one bud (apple) and leave space between each bud remaining on the tree. This will give you bigger fruit. When you harvest your apples they should be easy to remove by twisting the apple holding it in the palm of your hand. Remember to wash it before eating it unless storing it. Winter storage was done years ago by wrapping individually in paper and storing in a cool room. Commercial growers use buildings with heavy air filtration and controlled high carbon dioxide slowing the ethylene induced ripening. This gives us apples all year.

 There are numerous health benefits from an apple. It is full of vitamin C and potassium. The skin is good fibre for digestion. Apple cider vinegar is said to prevent kidney stones. Apple pulp is good for acne and can be used to help eye strain when applied. For vegans you can make a honey from 4 cups apple juice, ½ cup granulated sugar reduced by boiling to 1 cup, add 2 teasp. Lemon juice. Great to use in tea or poured on pancakes. Juice is one of the first baby drinks. For many reasons apples should be in everyone’s daily food.

 An interesting quote – “Baked apples have an excellent effect upon the whole physical system, feeding the brain as well as adding to the flesh, and keeping the blood pure; also preventing constipation and correcting a tendency to acidity, which produces rheumatism and neuralgia.” –The 1898 Old Farmer’s Almanac

The regular meeting for the Tillsonburg Horticultural Society will resume in January 2019, no meeting in December. For further information check the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca or join us on facebook  – tillsonburghorticultural. 

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – September 2018
by Angela Lassam

More butterflies this summer!

It appears we have been treated to many butterflies in our gardens this year. There is a variety of possible reasons but some say it is just Mother Nature doing her ‘thing’.

 The cold winter destroyed many parasites. This was helpful to many insects including butterflies. Yellow jackets are one of the most destructive eating butterflies in the caterpillar stage and as they emerge from the chrysalis whilst they are drying their wings before flight. The parasitic wasp is another killer. It is called a parasitoid which lays its eggs in the caterpillar of many butterflies and feeds on it throughout this stage. Spider mites are a common pest too. You can swab them with rubbing alcohol which kills them on contact or use an insecticidal soap which will not harm butterflies. Dawn dish soap solution is a natural alternative. Any pesticides used will taint plants and butterflies will not use them.  Swallowtails have a defense where they emit a foul odor from an appendage on their head although it is not very successful. Another advantage from the cold winter was the killing off of mold.

 The surge in temperatures in spring encouraged heavy leaf growth and subsequently provided good protection for the eggs laid. Later this allowed the caterpillars to roam freely under the leaves. Birds could not find them so easily.

There are many butterflies in Ontario so here are just a few with certain characteristics. Monarchs and swallowtails are very distinct and are the ones we most recognize. A tortoiseshell could be mistaken for a monarch but the lower wings have a black line through them not found on a monarch. They can be found as far as Northern Ontario. Their caterpillars feed on nettles. Commas are also orange and black but they have yellowish dots on the lower wing edges. The mourning cloak is black, blue and yellow and is one of the first to arrive and lay its eggs in willow and poplar. The adults like tree sap and any rotted fruit. The viceroy is another one similar to a monarch but it stays all winter and hibernates. The late caterpillar will cocoon itself in a willow leaf and wait until the catkins form in spring when it will emerge to change into a chrysalis and then an adult. 

Migration of butterflies has already started and only a few cabbage whites and sulphurs can be seen. Migration charts can be followed online www.maps.journeynorth.org/maps. There is also a website that is doing research into numbers of Monarch butterflies and if you would like to participate or follow it just take a look at the following www.mission-monarch.org . 

A good trip to maybe see monarchs and other butterflies is to visit the Point Pelee region where many of them rest before going south for the winter. Leamington is slowly becoming the ‘butterfly town’ to visit but anywhere there are shrubs on the shoreline of Lake Erie you may find resting butterflies later in the day especially late August when they start and into October depending on the weather.

If you would like to read and see many pictures of butterflies browse the following website…………very enjoyable!  https://insectsofsouthernontario.ca/category/butterflies/

 Everyone can be commended in the efforts to return some space to wild habitat and grow wild flowers. Gardeners have been encouraged to leave a corner for wild flowers and to plant many different flowers for the nectar as food. Farmers have been asked to participate in programs to nurture wetlands. Roadside spraying has been stopped allowing wild flowers to return. Nurseries sell plants and shrubs with labels specifically showing their benefits to insects. Everyone seems to have a desire to make our environment more natural.

A reminder for the junior gardeners who participated in the program and congratulations to all those who had their gardens judged. The Pizza Party and awards will be on September 25 @ 5.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Centre.   A big thank you goes to all of those who planted a garden and the parental encouragement. 

The Photo Competition is coming up at the next meeting and details can be found in the Tillogram or on the website. Please take out your photos and participate – there will be prizes and results at the November meeting.

The next monthly meeting will be on Tuesday October 2^nd @ 7.30pm in the Senior Centre Auditorium Tillsonburg Community Centre. The speaker will be Andrew Fleet of Growing Chefs! Ontario. He will talk about getting children excited about wholesome, healthy foods. All welcome. Check us out on Facebook tillsonburghorticultural and our website at tillsonburghorticultural.ca. Visitors are welcome so come join in and become a member for extra benefits. 

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – August 2018
by Angela Lassam

Now is the time to prepare all the excess produce we have grown to be used in the winter. Canning and preserving was a mammoth task in years past. It filled many kitchens with smells and heat with all surfaces covered with jars filled with fruit and vegetables.

Today it is much easier to store fruit and vegetables. For fruit freeze drying is one of the best ways. Simply clean, allow to dry after washing and bag them. Remove all excess air out by suction before storing in a freezer. Jams can be made at a later time. Fruit at any time can be taken from a freezer and added to ice cream as dessert or made into pies easily even using store purchased pie shells.

Vegetables appear to need more time to prepare but are well worth the effort. Most root vegetables will do well for several months after harvest. Potatoes only need to be placed in fresh air and allowed to be completely dry before handling. Rub all the dirt off and discard any damaged potatoes. Store the good potatoes in brown paper bags or bushel baskets covered to keep dark. Place in a cool place below 15 degrees C. if possible. A garage is a good place if it does not go below the freezing point. Carrots can stay in the ground until freezing temperatures. Then they must be pulled up, laid on newspaper to dry and then rubbed clean. A Rubbermaid tub is ideal for storage. Fill it in layers with carrots and sand or sawdust. Store in the same place as potatoes. Squash must be cut when completely finished growing leaving a small piece of the stem. Allow to dry completely. If there is any moisture on the skin they will rot quickly. A Rubbermaid tub is good to use but do not place the squash too close together and leave the lid off for aeration. I have successfully done this with squash and used them at Christmas time. A string bag is another way to store them and hang it up like other vegetables.

Onions need extra care before they can be stored for use in the winter months. They must be completely finished growing in the garden patch. This can be decided by the spike turning yellow and appearing to dry from the top down. To speed up this process before frost time simply bend the spike a little above the ground. They will quickly dry down and then can be pulled up for storage. Lay them out on dry ground on newspaper to absorb moisture and allow the skins to dry off. I use my garage floor for this. When the green part has dried completely you can cut it off. The onions can then be stored the same way in a string bag to keep them dry and airy. 

Lastly tomatoes can be saved for winter use in several ways. Simply wash them and put them in large bags and place in a freezer. In winter you can take out as many as you need and plunge in boiling water. The skins will split and can be easily peeled off even when the flesh is partly frozen. Use them as you would any canned tomatoes for soups, sauces or filler in many casseroles. Alternately freeze tomatoes overnight and plunge in boiling water the next day to remove skins and boil them. Freeze small portions in containers for use in winter.

It is worth the effort to know that the food we will be preparing is our own produce and that no chemicals have been used to promote growth and perfection.

Monthly meetings resume on Tuesday September 4^th @ 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre Auditorium at the Tillsonburg Community Centre. The topic is Fall Decorating with Hilde Makkink  of Sunflower Farm, Tillsonburg who will be demonstrating  for us.

A reminder for members that the Grow and Show Flower Competition is at this meeting. Categories can be found in the Tillogram or website. (Participation can be fun!) Everyone welcome. For more information look on Facebook at Tillsonburghorticultural or on the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca.

It’s Still Just Dirt, The Tillsonburg News – July 2018
by Angela Lassam

Without bees there would be no fresh food. The bees are one of the most important pollinators. Agriculture increasingly realises the natural value of bees and contract with beekeepers to pollinate crops. You may notice bee hives placed strategically on field sidelines especially melon fields locally. When vegetables and fruit are grown in our gardens we naturally get the pollination done for us. The wild habitat they need is disappearing fast as population needs rise so there is an urgency to allow wild spaces to be replanted with relevant vegetation. Gardeners can help too by growing flowers, vegetables and fruit with good and easy access. A corner of the garden could be planted with wild flowers where they can forage naturally.

There are over 40,000 species of bees worldwide and 1,000 of those are found in Canada. Bees have a round body covered in feathery hairs which transport the pollen as they feed and collect for the nest. They have two pairs of clear wings, large compound eyes and a proboscis to collect the pollen. They have a four stage life cycle – egg, larva, pupa and adult. Not all bees survive over the winter. Honey bees gather inside the hive in what is described as a cluster to survive.

Bees do not naturally sting unless stepped on or attacked when foraging for food. The honey bee can only sting once and then will die. They are not normally aggressive and should not be confused with a wasp. Wasps will sting repeatedly and in swarms. They can be distinguished by their very different appearance to the bee. A wasp has a narrow, thin, shiny body with bright coloring and longer thin legs. In spring they will eat insects but come summertime they invade any rotten garbage to eat the sugars collecting there.

In the garden we can help the bees by growing many plants in all seasons. In spring there is crocus, hyacinth and daffodils. For summer any fruit, cosmos, snapdragons, borage, beans and peas to name a few. For fall grow zinnias, asters, goldenrod and echinacea. There are many more worth mentioning but all have flower heads that are single and easy to reach in to get the pollen.

Now some fun facts about bees. They are the only insect that can make food that we can eat. They recognize the human face. They fly at 24 km/hr. They love caffeine.

The past garden tour in conjunction with the Station Arts Centre at the beginning of the month was very well supported and many thanks to all those who purchased tickets. Many hours went into the preparation of the gardens by the garden owners and the volunteer support so thanks there too. Plans are already in progress for another wonderful day next year.

In August there will be a workshop with Mitchell Hewson. The workshop is Saturday, August 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Two different creams will be made by each participant. Mitchell Hewson, world renowned Horticultural Therapist will lead the hands-on workshop as well as teach about the healing properties of essential oils.  Mitchell was extremely well received by the members when he was the society’s guest speaker last October.  Contact Judi Misener at judimisener@gmail.com.  Non- members are welcome. Open to everyone!

Lastly monthly meetings resume on Tuesday, September 4 @ 7.30 p.m. in the Senior Centre Auditorium, Tillsonburg Community Centre. Topic is Fall Decorating with Hilde Makkink of Sunflower Farm, Tillsonburg.

Everyone welcome.  For more information look on Facebook Tillsonburghorticultural or check the website www.tillsonburghorticultural.ca