Potomac Garden Club Seed Planted

POTOMAC - More than 45 people attended the Potomac Gardening Party the evening of April 15 at the Potomac/Greenough Community Center (PGCC). The event was part of the community center board "Family Night" functions held throughout the year.

The garden party was about getting to know neighbors, learning gardening techniques for the Potomac area and creating a neighbor network, said event organizer and gardener Aimee Miklovic.

"This could be a great resource for a significant portion of the community," said Miklovic. "People can create a bargaining network or trade services or just plant up seed flats together."

Miklovic wanted to provide a structure for the community to continue and build upon if they do want to have a local garden club. Her goal was to get people together, meet their neighbors and learn to garden.

Others speakers included Hunter Bell from the Sundog Ecovillage, Sarris Rose-McComb of Tiny Tree Service and Kathy Settevendemie of Blackfoot Native Plants.

Attendees learned about gardening in general plus composting, pruning, Potomac growing vagaries, fruit trees and vegetables.

Bell spoke of an anaerobic method of composting called Bokashi that originates in Japan.

It can be used indoors during the winter. Meat scraps as well as other organic matter can be applied into the compost container.

Discussion included whether or not pesticide sprayed compost material carries chemicals into the compost and into what is being grown as well as compost source ingredients and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Settevendemie said there are many different recipes for composting and it is important to know where compost sources are from.

Rose-McComb explained different styles of pruners and their capabilities. There can be a difference in tree growth depending on pruning cuts. Pruning can create a healthy tree and if a fruit tree is properly pruned, it will bear more fruit than if not pruned.

Regarding growing plants, "There are little micro-climates in Potomac," Settevendemie said. Some of the growing issues in Potomac are climate, water availability and deer, she added. The Potomac area is a semi-arid climate zone according to Settevendemie.

Different ways people are getting their Potomac gardens to grow are by starting seeds indoors and then transplanting outdoors when chance of frost is minimal, using greenhouses, tilling and composting the ground, amending the soil by materials like compost and growing in hoop houses or using row covers.

Blackfoot Native Plants Nursery displayed and gave away plants that thrive in the area including squash, cabbage, mint and sprouted potatoes. Participants could also take plant samples of chamomile and various melons.

The Potomac Bible Church is planting a community garden near the church. For more information on the Potomac Community Garden contact Trish Brewer, 406-244-5420.