Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
Many thanks! to everyone who participated in this year’s Lawn & Garden Show activities! See page 3 for photos.
And congratulations! This year our display garden won
The Horticultural Association of Tennessee’s Award for the Best Use of Plant Material. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 25th@ 7:00pm at The Miniature Cottage, 410 E. Iris in Berry Hill (near 100 Oaks in Nashville) Join us this month for a casual potluck dinner & a planning meeting. We will try to plan some fun activities for the coming year, so bring your calendars & ideas for meetings, workshops, outings, group projects, etc. If you can’t make the meeting, you can email ideas to me (jessica_mayo@bellsouth.net) & I’ll share them with the group. Hope to see you all there!
CHA
CUMBERLAND HERB ASSOCIATION • March 2015 Newsletter
Please submit news/info by the 1st week of the month to Jessica Bach: jessica_mayo@bellsouth.net or 615-891-8735.
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In the Garden. . .
Who’s got spring fever?
Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
If you’re glad to be out pulling weeds on a warm, sunny March day, then you’ve definitely got it! Spring is here, but it may not be safe to plant some herbs and vegetables outdoor yet. Most long-time Tennessee gardeners know to expect a few cold spells after the initial heat wave in March. These cold spells even have names after what is blooming at the time Blackberry winter, Dogwood winter, Redbud winter, etc. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some great tools to help gardeners get ready for spring & avoid planting too early. Visit www.almanac.com for more info including the planting guide pictured here.
Frost Dates for Nashville, TN Last Spring Frost Date = April 6 • First Fall Frost Date = Oct 28 (Growing Season = 204 Days) Light freeze: 29°F to 32°F - tender plants killed, with little destructive effect on other vegetation. Moderate freeze: 25°F to 28°F - widely destructive effect on most vegetation, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender and semi-hardy plants. Severe freeze: 24°F and colder - damage to most plants. http://www.almanac.com/content/growing-guide-herbs or http://www.almanac.com/content/us-frost-chart
Food safety - starts with seeds
What do you know about genetically modified organisms, or GMOs? We hear a lot about them in the news and on online sources. Whether you are a proponent or a skeptic, it pays to learn as much as possible about your food sources. This also applies to food you grow yourself. Here is a brief overview of GMOs & some tips for finding non-GMO seeds from trustworthy sources. There may be health and environmental risks associated with growing or eating these plants. The most common genetic modification is the addition of genes to create pest or herbicide resistant plants. Modifiying the plants’ DNA may have unexpected results that could create toxins or allergens that affect people or animals that eat the plants. GMOs may also alter the environment in unexpected ways by creating super weeds or affecting water quality. There are several ways to avoid GMOs. At the supermarket, skip processed foods containing ingredients from corn, soy, canola, sugar beets, and cotton & look for Non-GMO Project verified products. Buy organic foods or grow your own from non-GMO or organic seeds.
Find certified organic & non-GMO seeds
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/buy-non-gmo/non-gmo-seed http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/ViewPage.aspx?pageId=261 http://nongmosourcebook.com/aboutnongmosourcebook.php You can also order a print copy of The Non-GMO Sourcebook - a great resource to find non-GMO seeds & products. Read more about GMOs at http://www.non-gmoreport.com/whatisnon-gmo.php
C U M B E R L A N D H E R B A S S O C I AT I O N • N A S H V I L L E , T N • M A R C H 2 0 15 N E W S L E T T E R
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Great teamwork! From this...
Making the world a little greener
The Sage Page with our spare thyme!
We really came together as a team & made a beautiful garden! Our vendor booth was stocked with items as unique & creative as our members.
to this in 3 days Carmen & Estelle hard at work
“The Beginning of Thyme”
The Two to Try segment will return next month. Have a recipe or craft for me to try? Send me your suggestions! C U M B E R L A N D H E R B A S S O C I AT I O N • N A S H V I L L E , T N • M A R C H 2 0 15 N E W S L E T T E R
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