Gardener News March 2017

TAKE ONE

Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

March, 2017

TAKE ONE

GARDENERNEWS.COM

No. 167

Creating Pollinator Centers

David Williams/Photo Selfie

David Williams, left, co-owner of Williams Nursery and The Gift House in Westfield, Union County; Jeannie Geremia, second from left, Community Gardens Chair, the Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair and the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Chair for The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and a member of Neshanic Garden Club; Diana Kazazis, second from right, President of the Rake and Hoe Garden Club of Westfield; and Merrilyn Crane, President of the Garden Club of Westfield. The Garden Club members met with Williams to facilitate the setting up of a Pollinator Center at Williams Nursery and The Gift House.

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.’s newest project will soon be at a location near you, as our garden clubs are out in force to make this pollinator educational tool

a reality throughout our Garden State.

The idea was percolating for some time as we tried to encourage garden centers to devote designated sections of their business to pollinator-friendly plants without success. Finally,

after a two-year effort appeared to be fruitless, we realized that garden centers and nurseries were way too busy, overworked, understaffed and at the mercy of the elements to even think about establishing a pollinator section, let alone

implementing one.

Hence, we came to the conclusion that we had to “step up to the plate” and help. The GCNJ Butterflies & BeeGAP (Gardeners Adding Pollinators) decided to develop a set of Pollinator signage that garden clubs

could provide to their local garden centers and nurseries, establishing a WIN/WIN partnership that would benefit the gardening public as well as the principals involved.

Brainstorming the logistics of (Cont. on page 12)

2 March, 2017

G A R D E N C E N T E R D I R E C T O R Y GardenerNews.com

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March, 2017 3

Contact: pro Co- ducer Jeff Morey, IGC Show Co-founder & Jeff@IGCshow.com 888-376-4784 August 15-17, 2017 Navy Pier l Chicago FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLE , FOCUS TO BE ON CHICAGO AS SIN EIGC EAST SHOW DISCONTINUED EN CENTERS SOURCE FOR INDEPENDENT GARD CENTRAL BUYING, EDUCATION RE es and exhibitors, ration of feedback from both attende CHICAGO – Following careful conside t Show in favor of they are discontinuing the EIGC Eas IGC Show organizers announced event focused duct buying and retail education pro tral cen le sing the as o cag Chi IGC Show ndent garden centers. exclusively on the needs of indepe ry better,” says we strongly feel serves the indust one but I, and ryl Che for n isio “It was a tough dec was in response to requests CEO. “When we started EIGC East, it and r nde fou Cow Sho IGC rey, Mo Jeff that followed was kyard. But what we saw in the years bac ir the in nt eve an for ion reg the from retailers in iness connections from the middle es and vendors that their close bus nde atte t Eas from ion trat frus e som t in Chicago – we Morey continues, “And the same wen m.” the with re the en’t wer ntry cou section of the m until next time.’ Frankly, it t this year, so we’ll have to miss the heard, ‘Joe and Jane went to EIGC Eas our industry. Now, the tion as the central, unifying event for uta rep and es valu core our inst went aga s of our industry.” cago, we feel, is in the best interest decision to bring it all back to Chi continuing IGC Show all available resources toward not only IGC Show organizers are channeling nt garden centers – they are show and conference for independe l ntia esse the as ition pos o’s cag Chi the trade show icated new product showcases on ded of n itio add the with hs ngt building on its stre ; interactive retail strategy in both green goods and hardgoods ns ctio odu intr g htin hlig hig r, floo in marketing and nces, the power of Google analytics allia al tion mo pro al” Loc op “Sh on workshops first look at results from an ve keynotes, including the industry’s other retail-specific strategies; exclusi more, to be announced ters led by John Stanley; and much cen den gar top of k tan k thin al internation in the coming months. , “and we look ind the EIGC East event,” Morey says beh t por sup ir the put who e ryon “We truly thank eve – all in one place, all in three great industry back together again this in e ryon eve ging brin to ard forw ters – this summer at Navy Pier.” days, all for independent garden cen details about special Pier, August 15-17. Watch for more y Nav o’s cag Chi to rns retu o cag IGC Show Chi . Registration and discounted th annual trade show and conference events planned for the industry’s 11 w.IGCChicago.com. hotel rooms are now available at ww

4 March, 2017 If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

Much like that old saying, teaching children to garden and grow food is increasingly being seen as important to establishing lifelong healthy eating habits.

When that lesson includes access to New Jersey’s best…seasonal, fresh fruits and vegetables grown in our state, the impact reaches beyond the school and connects to New Jersey’s agriculture community.

Students across our state increasingly realize the importance of being from The Garden State through Farm to School programs. Of the 775 school districts that participate in federally funded school lunch programs in New Jersey, over half responded to an NJDA survey that they’re either serving local produce in school meals, offering taste tests with New Jersey-grown fruits and vegetables or teaching students about where food comes from through school garden education. This is noteworthy in the fact that Farm to School is a relatively new concept, started in the mid-2000s and is increasingly gaining interest on the part of school meal providers.

Our Department of Agriculture is a state partner, along with Rutgers Cooperative

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Connecting farms and schools Extension, in hosting FoodCorps (www.foodcorps.org), a national AmeriCorps program in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

New Jersey is host to 12 FoodCorps service members who serve in a broad range of school communities, teaching children where their food comes from and helping to establish a life-long love of fresh fruits and vegetables. These school children who participate in Farm to School education are our future consumers!

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program, (www.farmtoschool. nj.gov) is situated within the Division of Food and Nutrition and is a resource available to everyone in the state. Farmers looking to sell to schools are encouraged to reach out to our Farm to School coordinators to learn how schools purchase produce. School food service providers utilize our seasonality

chart to plan menus featuring produce when in season.

NJDA Farm to School social media links are available through the site, sharing information about events, trainings and funding opportunities and highlighting Farm to School activities across New Jersey. If a school visits a farm for a class trip, that’s Farm to School. When a farm sells produce to a school for a special event, that’s Farm to School, too! And if a farmer visits a school for an assembly to talk about farming, yes, that’s Farm to School!

Legislation passed in 2014 established the Farm to School and School Garden Fund Tax Check Off, which currently is available in the Charitable Donations portion of the 2016 New Jersey State Tax Form.

This tax check off allows state residents the opportunity to donate to a NJDA-sponsored grant program for schools to fund

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

CC Coletti (Carolyn Coletti Jablonski) known worldwide for her rocking duets and background vocals with rock and roll legend, Meat Loaf and his Neverland Express World Tours from 2003 through 2011, looks over the February Gardener News while relaxing at her home in New Jersey. CC started singing and creating music at a young age in New Jersey, and has been a staple in the New Jersey Rock Club Scene since the tender age of 18, and her dynamic vocal abilities and stage presence have helped her develop a very large and loyal following that continues to expand both at home and abroad. Her band, the CC Coletti Band, has been the opening act for America, The Doobie Brothers, Meat Loaf, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Brett Michaels, The Smithereens, War, South Side Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys and KIX.

farm visits, salad bars and school garden materials.

Of note this year is the enactment of Chapter 39, an Act concerning contributions to the New Jersey Farm to School Program, signed into law in August 2014, where “The Secretary of Agriculture may solicit and accept contributions from private and public sources for the purpose of providing support to help fund the New Jersey Farm to School Program…which encourages schools to purchase produce from local farmers to incorporate into school meals throughout the growing season, and to increase the amount of local fresh produce available for consumption by students during the school day.”

As schools begin to purchase more local produce, it is imperative for everyone in the supply chain to communicate these transactions. The marketing opportunities for growers,

brokers, produce distributors and school meal providers align around Farm to School.

Jersey Fresh was local before “local” was local, and we’re seeing produce distributors meet the demand for local food in schools by establishing relationships with farms and sharing farm information with their customers.

Although there is no “one size fits all” solution to getting local produce into schools, developing relationships is the key as it is in all business relationships and marketing what you grow and sell is central to establishing this market.

This month’s column was written by Beth Feehan, Farm to School Coordinator for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. – Douglas H. Fisher Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976.

For more info, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture

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March, 2017 5

Support NJ Agriculture JERSEY GROWN

Nursery Stock JERSEY GROWN

Sunflower Birdseed JERSEY GROWN

Firewood

JERSEY GROWN

When you’re shopping for JERSEY GROWN nursery stock, you know the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers are checked for quality, disease, are pest free, and accustomed to the Garden State’s climate and soil conditions.

Annuals & Perennials Made With JERSEY GROWN

Wood Birdhouses & Bird Feeders

Governor Chris Christie Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher

jerseygrown.nj.gov

6 March, 2017

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Innovative Nursery Advances Rutgers NJAES Tree Fruit Research Adams County Nursery (ACN) of Aspers, PA, recently donated $25,000 to the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) tree fruit breeding program for the second year in a row in which employees have supported the fruit tree industry through Rutgers research.

ACN president Phil Baugher and NJAES tree fruit breeder Joe Goffreda have established a mutually beneficial alliance to benefit the industry. Baugher has been pleased with the results and plans to continue this annual gift and hopefully increase the amount over time. This philanthropic contribution is making a positive impact on tree fruit breeding through Rutgers NJAES. Employees at Adams County Nursery grade, bundle and store over a million fruit trees in 10 short weeks. This process is time-sensitive and labor-intensive and keeps them very busy over the winter months. According to Baugher, approximately 95% of all nursery stock in storage has already been sold. He recommends that any growers interested in purchasing trees place their orders two years in advance. Availability is tight and this helps their sales staff determine propagation needs. Adams County Nursery takes pride in variety selection for good reason.

Baugher commented, “For five generations we have made it our goal to provide our customers with the highest quality nursery stock. We strive to maintain a comprehensive product line by working with plant breeders from across the globe. These relationships coupled with our experienced staff allow us to bring you the best and newest varieties, and the knowledge to make them work for you.�

Founded, owned and operated by the Baugher family for over 100 years, ACN is now the largest producer of nursery stock in the Northeast. Their slogan “Growing with you‌TMâ€? demonstrates their willingness to adapt and meet the needs of commercial growers and backyard gardeners.

The ACN business model is based on giving back to the community and growing quality fruit trees. In speaking with Baugher, his passions for business and the environment are evident. As a family establishment, Baugher is confident that the next generation will carry on the values instilled in him by his father, including: production of quality fruit trees, dedication to the community, careful attention to detail, and philanthropy.

The tree fruit breeding program at the Rutgers NJAES began in 1907, and has since introduced several peach, nectarine, apple, and apricot varieties which have become standards in the fruit industry and were bred for their excellent eating quality, winter-hardiness, and disease resistance. Joseph Goffreda, associate professor of plant biology and pathology and director of the Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center in Cream Ridge, New Jersey, has led the Rutgers tree fruit breeding program since 1989.

Goffreda has developed and patented more than a dozen peaches in addition to 14 varieties of apple, apricot, and nectarine; all of which are non-GMO. His cultivars have proven to be highly suitable for production in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. The commercial success of these peach varieties contributes to New Jersey being ranked among the leading U.S. states in peach production.

Goffreda has been developing superior tree fruit varieties for the Northeast for nearly 30 years. His work has contributed significantly to the success of the region’s fruit tree industry, and is one of New Jersey agriculture’s best kept secrets.

Looking to the future, it is important to consider the needs of growers, consumers, and the industry at large. In the Northeast, an increase in temperature could (Cont. on page 7)

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From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. Director

Growing Rutgers in Your Garden Each month in our Rutgers Outreach column, we highlight the programs, services and expertise from Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and Cooperative Extension. In 2016, one of the topics we featured was the NJAES plant and oyster breeding programs that bring improved varieties to home gardeners, commercial growers and consumers.

You wouldn’t know it from looking at your dinner plate, but some of the foods you consume, whether from a supermarket, farm market, garden, or local restaurant, were developed at Rutgers.

Through NJAES, the university has been and continues to breed varieties of fruits and vegetables, and even nuts and shellfish, which play key roles in the food and agriculture industries.

Similarly, you wouldn’t know that succulent peach from the farmers market or the turf variety in the bag of grass seed you’re buying were varieties that were developed at Rutgers. In this month’s column we’d like to inform New Jersey gardeners how to find the plants, seeds or fruits of some of these varieties so you can enjoy Rutgers in your garden and/or Rutgers on your plate. “Rutgers 250� and “Ramapo� Tomatoes Of the hundreds of varieties of tomatoes grown by home gardeners or commercial growers, there are a few standards that have become household names. One of those is the “Rutgers� tomato – a leading home garden and processing variety of the 20th century. While the Rutgers tomato is no longer commercially grown for canned tomato production, it is still popular among home gardeners and available from seed catalogs and garden centers. However, as a result of the deviation of the Rutgers tomato since its release in 1934, the modern Rutgers tomato is a derivative of the original.

The vegetable researchers at NJAES sought to re-create the original strain, and last year released the “Rutgers 250� tomato, named for the University’s 250th anniversary.

Another tomato release from NJAES was the “Ramapoâ€? tomato, an F1 hybrid released in 1968, which soon became a home gardener’s favorite. When Ramapo tomato seed became no longer commercially available, Rutgers NJAES brought it back on the market due to popular demand. Seeds of the Ramapo and Rutgers 250 tomatoes and sources for the tomato plants (posted in late-April) are available on the Rediscover the Jersey Tomato website: njfarmfresh.rutgers.edu/JerseyTomato.html. “Rutgers Scarletâ€? Strawberry Rutgers researchers have been breeding improved strawberry cultivars for production in eastern North America with the aim of improving strawberry fruit quality, yields, disease resistance and most LPSRUWDQWO\ Ă€DYRU 7KH ILUVW UHOHDVH IURP WKLV SURJUDP WKH Âł5XWJHUV 6FDUOHW´ KDV EHHQ PHHWLQJ ZLWK great approval for its superior taste. This short-day strawberry was selected for its vigorous plant growth, productivity, high fruit quality, and flavor. Sources of where to find the strawberry plants and obtain the berries through pick-your-own (May – June) are available from the NJAES All-Star Breeds website: breeding.rutgers.edu. “Pumpkin Habaneroâ€? Pepper Rutgers ethnic crops researchers have been evaluating hot pepper varieties for potential local markets. Part of this research developed into the Exotic Pepper Project, which involves plant breeding methods to combine desirable fruit quality, earliness, yield, horticultural, and disease/pest resistance characteristics. Over 100 selected breeding lines of exotic peppers are being evaluated at NJAES research farms. As the uses, interest, and demand for exotic hot peppers increase, the project’s plan is for New Jerseyans to tap into an expanded market of locally grown hot peppers.

This year marks the first release from this program – the “Pumpkin Habanero.� This medium/ small hot pepper resembles a miniature pumpkin, has smooth/glossy skin, and is light or deep yellow when ripe. The fruit wall is thick, heatless, sweet and crunchy; the pepper heat is located at the base of the fruit where the placenta and seed are concentrated. The pepper has a moderate heat level. Spring plant availability can be found at: breeding.rutgers.edu/pepper. “Scarlet Fire� Dogwood The Rutgers ornamental tree breeding program has developed a hardy, pink dogwood tree that promises to add vibrant color to the landscape in New Jersey and beyond. The new dogwood, called “Scarlet Fire,� is the answer to a riddle that has eluded plant biologists for decades. It achieves the brilliant color associated with the native Cornus florida species that has been plagued by blight in the hardier Cornus kousa – an Asian species that is resistant to most diseases, but lacked some of the color that made the native species so attractive.

The Scarlet Fire stands out in the landscape for its timing and shade of pink. The dogwood flowers toward the end of May and early in June, later in the season than most flowering trees. Sold in limited quantities last spring, the Scarlet Fire dogwood will be widely available for the first time in 2017 through mail order from nurseries. Find out more at: breeding.rutgers.edu/dogwood-trees.

Editor’s Note: Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. is Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a Professor of Animal Science. RCE delivers wide-ranging educational programs in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, urban and community outreach, youth development, food, nutrition and health, and related areas of economic and workforce development across New Jersey. Dr. Katz can be reached at 848-932-3591. Visit: http://njaes.rutgers.edu/extension/

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RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Purple for March

With a little thought, seasons can be defined by colors, with each season marked by the predominance of one or two flower colors.

To me, late-winter conjures up images of white and yellow flowers, with scant few options for purple blossoms until April and May. This color void initiated my interest for the rosy-purple March flowers of Spring Meadow Saffron or Colchicum bulbocodium.

Colchicum bulbocodium was initially considered to be a member of the lily family, but has since been reclassified into its own family of Colchicaceae.

This species is native to alpine meadows, from the Pyrenees Mountains of France and Spain, east to the Caucasus.

The flowers and foliage appear, mature and vanish over a threemonth period in spring, with the remaining nine months spent quiescent as an underground “stem” called a corm. A corm is

a modified stem, as opposed to a true bulb like an onion, which consists of modified leaves.

The genus name actually stems from its geographic domain. Colchis was an ancient civilization along the Black Sea that existed from the 13th to the 1st century B.C. – a region that is currently part of present-day Georgia. Since it was a region rich in various species of this plant, the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) thought it fitting to name the plant after this ancient civilization.

Colchicum is also poisonous due to high concentrations of colchicine that prevents cell meiosis.

By coincidence, in Greek mythology, Colchis was also the home of the sorceress Medea, who was known for her deadly potions.

This is also one of those plants that is plagued by the confusion of a name change – and not even a recent name change at that. The plant was originally named Bulbocodium vernum by Linnaeus. This genus and current species name comes from the Greek bulbos

or bulb and kodian meaning wool, referring to the wooly pubescence of the papery outer layer to the corm. The species epithet of vernum refers to the time of bloom – the vernal equinox.

In 1807, the English botanist John Bellenden Ker Gawler (1764-1842) properly reclassified the plant as Colchicum bulbocodium.

Interestingly, 200 years later, I learned the plant as Bulbocodium vernum. Change is so difficult.

The difficulty in identifying the genus was due to the floral style. Style does not refer to fashion, but to the stem that connects the stigma to the ovary. The stigma is the sticky surface at the tip of the style that receives the pollen.

The pollen then passes down through the style as enzymes carve passageways or pollen tubes that lead to the ovary and ultimately fertilization and seed production.

In most species of Colchicum, each flower has three ovaries, with the style splitting into three “strands”

Innovative Nursery Advances Rutgers NJAES Tree Fruit Research (Continued from page 6)

be critical for agricultural industries. Business-savvy leaders like Baugher have a holistic approach to conducting their operations. Supporting the research that will, in turn, support the business, is the kind of forward-looking decision making that will sustain agriculture in the Northeast. Thinking ahead can be as easy as taking a step back, seeing the big picture, and forming working relationships with your community, including fellow industry members and university researchers. This leads to constructive thinking about what precedes and follows, so that you can make informed decisions and take part in the entire food system.

Releasing a new variety for market often comes down to choosing a name. The desirability is there, but NJ 355 does not sell as well as Scarlet RoseTM. After years, sometimes decades, of research in developing a new variety with desired traits, it is no wonder why coming up with one or two words to describe the new fruit can be a challenge. In most cases, grower cooperators are identified to trial these new selections in their orchard before they are named and made commercially available. Of course, ACN reserves space in their own test blocks, but they also provide trees to grower cooperators willing to test Goffreda’s selections in a commercial setting.

You may be wondering what happens to all the fruit that is unable to be sold. Many times, it is left on the tree to be eaten by birds and worms. At ACN, volunteer groups are organized to pick, or glean, the fruit and bring harvests to help address food insecurity at nearby soup kitchens and food banks.

Last year, ACN donated $25,000 to the NJAES to support Goffreda’s extensive tree fruit breeding program. The gift will help maintain and expand the program’s breeding research, with particular focus on the testing and evaluation of disease-resistant, novel, and commercially appealing tree fruit varieties. Special attention will also be given to potential new releases that offer unique characteristics, including new flavor profiles, increased durability, and ability to thrive in adverse conditions. This year, ACN is proud to commit an additional $25,000 in support of his valuable research for the tree fruit industry. For over 100 years, the Baugher family has demonstrated smart decision-making for the business and genuine care for community. ACN’s donations reflect a commitment to sustain the programs whose innovations, in turn, help to ensure the sustainability of the industry. On behalf of the NJAES, we thank them for their generosity and commitment.

near the ovary. In this species, the style is split at the tip, but fuses into one strand with three individual pathways to the ovaries.

Despite the confusion of the name and identity, this is one stupendous plant. Unlike many of the later blooming, largeflowered Crocus, the flowers of Spring Meadow Saffron are not impacted by cold weather. I have seen the flowers totally encased in ice after a night of freezing rain, only to bloom beautifully in the days to come. That would not be true of the Crocus.

The flowers also present themselves beautifully in the Garden; initially, a rosette of four dark-purple leaves emerge from the soil, through which an erect rosy-purple bud appears.

Within several days, the twoto three-inch diameter, fivepetalled flowers open and remain impactful for close to two weeks.

The ensuing foliage is clean and attractive, going dormant by early-June. Plants prefer full sun and flourish in an organic soil that retains moisture throughout the winter, with

March, 2017 7 periods of summer drought, much like an alpine meadow.

Colchicum bulbocodium does not self-sow aggressively; in fact, after 25 years, there are only several seedlings to be found.

Spring Meadow Saffron provides a weather-resistant splash of purple that helps to nicely transition the garden of late-winter into that of spring.

Certainly a plant to research in bulb catalogues this fall!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

5ඎඍ඀ൾඋඌ &ඈඈඉൾඋൺඍංඏൾ (එඍൾඇඌංඈඇ 3ඁඈඇൾ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋඒ Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-307-6450 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

Middlesex County Phone: 732-398-5260 Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260 Morris County Phone: 973-285-8300 Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246 Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740 Salem County Phone: 856-769-0090 Somerset County Phone: 908-526-6293 Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040 Union County Phone: 908-654-9854 Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505

8 March, 2017

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New Jersey Legislative Update Bill to Help Conserve Water by Requiring Operational Automatic Rain Sensors on Lawn Sprinklers on Certain Properties Clears Panel An Assembly panel released on Thursday, January 19 legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John McKeon, Mila Jasey and Tim Eustace to require installation of operational automatic rain sensors on lawn sprinklers as condition of sale and on lawn sprinklers on commercial, retail or industrial property and in common interest communities within a specified timeframe.

State law currently requires newly installed sprinkler systems to be equipped with such sensors. The sponsors said the intent of this bill is to codify the requirement for certain properties in the state.

“While rain fall helps to replenish reservoirs, the state must still ward against the potential of a drought anytime of the year,” said McKeon (D-Essex, Morris). “For residents with automatic sprinkler systems, sensors in the ground that can detect moisture levels and only turn the system on when water is actually needed and other forms of rain sensors can help conserve the state’s water supply.”

The bill (A1484) requires every contract of sale of real property upon which a lawn sprinkler system was installed on or prior or September 8, 2000 must include a provision requiring, as a condition of the sale, the installation of an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the automatic lawn sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred.

“There are better ways to manage our water when it comes to the use of lawn sprinklers,” said Jasey (D-Essex, Morris). “Mandating automatic lawn sprinkler systems will help the state to conserve water and to use our water resources more responsibly.”

“This legislation puts in place a conservation practice that will save water and money,” said Eustace (D-Bergen, Passaic). “Anything we can do to avoid droughts in the future is a step in the right direction.”

Under the bill, closing of title on the sale of any real property cannot occur unless documentation is provided demonstrating the installation of an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch. At closing, the buyer and seller both must certify in writing that the requirements of this subsection have been met. However, these provisions will not apply to the closing of title on the sale of property within a common interest community.

Within 24 months after the date of enactment of this bill for common interest communities and within 12 months for any commercial, retail or industrial properties, an automatic lawn sprinkler must be retrofitted with an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the automatic lawn sprinkler system.

The bill was released by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste committee and now goes to the Assembly Speaker for further consideration.

Currently, there is no a companion bill in the Senate.

Gusciora & Muoio Bill to Help Spur the Growth of Craft Distilleries in NJ Approved by Assembly Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Reed Gusciora and Elizabeth Maher Muoio designed to spur the growth of craft distilleries throughout the Garden State was approved Monday, January 23, 2017 by the General Assembly.

The bill (A-2609) would create a restricted distillery license, the holder of which may manufacture, rectify, blend, treat, mix, sell and distribute distilled alcoholic beverages. The restricted distillery license may only be issued to a person or an entity that has identical ownership to an entity that holds a plenary retail consumption license, and only provided that the plenary retail consumption license is located within a Garden State Growth Zone, and is operated in conjunction with a restaurant regularly and principally used for the purpose of providing meals to its customers and having adequate kitchen and dining facilities, and that the licensed restaurant is immediately adjoining the premised licensed under the law.

Five New Jersey cities - Atlantic City, Camden, Passaic, Paterson, and Trenton - are currently designated as Garden State Growth Zone because they either have the lowest median family income or contain a Tourism District established under current law and regulated by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

“Craft distilleries in this state are essentially business startups so allowing them to operate a restaurant on the premises will help them get off the ground by exposing more potential customers to their products and attracting new clientele who might not necessarily be drawn to distilled spirits,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “This business model has proved a boon to the brewpub industry and would do much the same for the longterm health of craft distilleries. It will also create an additional draw for our Garden State Growth Zones, both in terms of attracting visitors and creating jobs for residents.”

“Craft distilleries face particular challenges because of the production realities of their product. Many whiskeys and bourbons take to years to age, leaving small distillers little choice but to look to alternative revenue streams to pay the bills until their product is old enough to sell,” said Muoio (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “Allowing craft distilleries to add restaurants to their facilities will provide economic stability while also attracting visitors, jobs and ratables to some of our most distressed cities. Ultimately, fostering the growth of distilleries in New Jersey will have a positive economic impact all around.”

The craft distillery sector is similar to the craft brewing sector, which has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, leading to beneficial economic activity. According to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, the 68 craft breweries currently operating in the Garden State support 9,560 jobs in the state, and generate $1.2 billion dollars in economic impact for the state.

Similarly, the craft distilling industry is currently a growth sector with revenue from the U.S. sales of bourbon, rye whiskey and Tennessee whiskey totaling $2.9 billion in 2015, up 7.8 percent from the previous year and four percent the year before that, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.

The sponsors noted that craft spirits producers are prolific job creators. According to the American Craft Spirits Association, craft producers employ approximately one full time employee for every 700 cases sold, versus the large company ratio of one full-time employee for every 16,000 cases sold. In other words, craft spirits producers employ 21 times more people than large spirits companies on a volume adjusted basis. Estimates hold that the craft distilling industry employs more than 6,000 full-time employees nationwide.

The bill was approved 59-7-3 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Houghtaling Bill to Help Promote Locally Produced Agricultural Products Clears Assembly Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D-Monmouth) to help New Jersey counties promote agricultural products produced in those counties was approved on Monday, January 23, 2017 by the General Assembly.

“People today are much more conscious about the foods they eat and where it comes from,” said Houghtaling, who sits on the committee. “These labels can help inform consumers about the origins of the product they’ve purchased, help promote agricultural products that are locally produced and foster a sense of pride and identity for the farmers and their communities.”

The bill (A-3055) would authorize counties to create, adopt, and issue promotional labels to be used on agricultural products to identify agricultural products either fresh or processed that are produced in the county. The bill would also require counties to consult with the Department of Agriculture in the development, adoption, and issuance of the promotional labels.

This bill would take effect immediately.

The bill was approved 70-0-0 by the Assembly and now awaits further consideration by the Senate.

GardenerNews.com

Easter Flowers

March, 2017 9 Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Gardener and Landscaper Shows and School

SEED STARTING HEADQUARTERS

Visit our Farmers Market & Garden Center

As winter winds down, green industry and gardening shows are helping to usher in spring. Gardeners can even go to school.

First up is a show for the landscape contractors. It’s called Landscape New Jersey. This trade-only show is filled with great educational opportunities directed toward the landscape industry. Contractors can attend DEP credit courses, and catch up on the latest laws from the New Jersey State Police. The show promises to have over 150 exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest landscape equipment to help the contractor survive the ever-changing climate. If you’re in the landscape industry, be sure to catch this one-day show on March 8 in the Meadowlands Convention Center. Please see their ad on page 16.

Next up is the New Jersey FFA Horticultural Exposition and Floral Design Career Development Event on Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11.

In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Mercer County Community College will be hosting this “High School Horticulture Expo� featuring entries by more than 500 students. The design event will take place in the Mercer County Community College gymnasium on the West Windsor campus on March 10.

Visitors are invited to view a wide array of floral arrangements on the second floor of the buildings that surround the MCCC Quad – from the Student Center to the Library to the Communications Building hallway on the college’s West Windsor Campus, on Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FFA is a national educational organization, some 600,000 members strong, preparing young people for leadership and careers in agriculture. As one of the three integral components of Agricultural Education, FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. In New Jersey, more than 2,600 members engage in personal, career and leadership development activities that challenge them to excel as they develop agricultural skills and competencies for the future. Explore these pages to see how New Jersey FFA is positively impacting the lives of students.

On March 11-19, the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show blooms at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. %ULGJHV ZLQGPLOOV FDQDOV DQG ZDWHU JDUGHQV LQ D VHD RI IORZHUVĘŠZLWK PRUH EORRPV VXVSHQGHG LQ D JLDQW IORUDO FDQRS\ĘŠZLOO ZHOFRPH JXHVWV WR WKLV \HDUÂśV VKRZ The Flower Show Entrance Garden is the initial show stopper every year. The exhibit created by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will capture both the iconic and innovative features of the Dutch landscape. Guests will pass under a brick bridge inspired by the Amsterdam cityscape and adorned with Delft tile patterns, overflowing flower boxes and hanging baskets. The surrounding garden will be planted with cherry trees, sycamores, and drifts of floral color ranging from hot orange to soft pinks, reds, blues and purple accents. Mixed in with thousands of tulips will be hundreds of fritillaria, narcissus, anemones and other blooms.

The Dutch New Wave Movement, which takes a natural and sustainable approach to landscape design, will be evident in the wild grasses and varieties of perennials in the sloping berms of the garden.

A dazzling light display will illuminate the landscape and the ornate blades of three windmills rising from the garden beds. I can’t wait to see this.

I’ve been personally told that the 2017 show promises to inspire and empower gardeners of all interests with new horticultural ideas and information. And that exhibits throughout the show will spotlight the highest quality trees, shrubs and perennials for the home garden, including the 2017 PHS Gold Medal Plant winners chosen for their year-round beauty and hardiness.

Now it’s time to go to school. On Saturday, March 18, Rutgers University presents their 41st Annual Home Gardeners School.

The Home Gardeners School provides expert instruction in the most innovative gardening and landscaping subjects available.

Designed to provide “something for everyone,� the Home Gardeners School offers 37 individual workshop sessions covering a wide array of horticulture topics. This format allows you to select the workshops that are most relevant to your gardening interests in order to create your own unique, customized schedule for this fun day of learning.

There are two morning workshop sessions (running 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.-11:45a.m.)

Next there is a one-hour lunch break and keynote presentation. Two afternoon workshop sessions (running from 1:15 p.m.-2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.) conclude the day.

Speakers from commercial horticulture and landscape design programs will be participating along with Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) faculty and staff, providing you with the opportunity to learn from the best in the business.

For more information on this gardening school, call the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education at 848-932-9271. Class sizes are limited.

And finally, there is a new show scheduled at the Morristown Armory in Morristown, Morris County on March 31, April 1 & 2. It’s the Morristown Home and Garden Show. The venue is easily accessible from routes 80, 287, 24, 46 & 10.

As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.

Until next time‌Keep the “gardenâ€? in the Garden State.

-Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

10 March, 2017 Now is the time of year when many farms throughout New Jersey are either signing up or renewing customers for their CSA programs.

Community Supported Agriculture (or CSAs), are a relatively new way of marketing farm products here in the Garden State.

While there have been at least a few around for at least 25 or so years, they have really started to gain in popularity over the past 10 years. Both growers and customers alike seem to be realizing the many benefits of this particular system of direct marketing farm products straight to the end consumer.

For those who are not familiar with the ways in which CSAs work, here is a brief explanation. Basically, a customer signs up (and usually pre-pays) for a scheduled allotment of produce over a certain time frame throughout the year. They are then given scheduled portions of fresh fruits, vegetables and other farm products throughout that growing season. In a CSA’s truest and most original form, a grower would pre-sell shares in his or her crop for that

GardenerNews.com The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Community Supported Agriculture season. The shareholders would then receive a percentage of the output of that farm each week. If there was a good growing season and harvest, the customers would receive an abundance of fresh produce. If that was not the case, then the customers would be disappointed.

This original model has evolved quite a bit over the past few years, however.

While there are still some basic original type CSAs operating, many farms have chosen to modify their offerings somewhat. And this has usually been done because both the farmers and customers alike have searched for ways to enhance this system so that both parties are able to derive a positive experience.

On our farm for example, because we market our products

in many other different ways, we are not able to run a CSA in its purest form. But because of the size and scope of our operation, we feel that we are able to grow and put together a much more diverse offering of products. Also, in some instances, customers might want to adjust their shares so that they coincide with school and vacation schedules. It is all about finding what works best with both the grower and the customer.

From the customer’s perspective, many say that being a member of a CSA helps them to try new and different products that they would not normally be inclined to purchase individually, and that it helps to expand their boundaries on what they might choose to eat. Others say that it gets them more in tune with

the agricultural seasons here in New Jersey and they are better able to enjoy the freshness of items that they know have just been harvested. Still others appreciate the cost savings that they get by signing up ahead of time for a season’s worth of produce.

There are advantages for the grower as well. First of all, we know ahead of time how many people have signed up. This makes it much easier to plan for what needs to be planted, harvested, etc… It is also a good way for us as growers to reach some of our same customers with new products.

For example, someone who might not normally be inclined to purchase Swiss chard for might decide, after trying it, that it is pretty good and they then might seek it out during other times of the year.

Yet another advantage for us is that it has made us better growers. In order to keep a diversity of produce throughout the season, we have had to expand our product offerings considerably.

We realize that people can only eat so much sweet corn, peaches and tomatoes, and that no matter how good or fresh they are, people would soon become bored with too much of anything.

We have also sought to lengthen our season on certain items to meet the demands and expectations of our customers.

So go out and support New Jersey agriculture and sign up for a CSA today!

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is currently the Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

Research on Stink Bug Damage to Sweet Corn May Help Growers Manage Them

By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. This article was originally published by Entomology Today Cooperative Extension agents and researchers at the University of Delaware are taking a closer look at how brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) are causing damage to developing ears of sweet corn, the results of which could lead to better pest management strategies for growers throughout the state.

Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Economic Entomology.

Bill Cissel, an integrated pest management extension agent, is a member of the research group and said that in 2011 and 2012 the researchers infested sweet corn ears with different densities of brown marmorated stink bugs — zero, one, three and five adults per ear — at three different corn growth stages: silking, blister, and milk.

“The objective of our

research was to determine how many brown marmorated stink bugs it takes to cause damage, both quality and yield reductions, in sweet corn,” said Cissel. “We also wanted to look at what influence the plant growth stage may or may not have on the amount of damage that we see and also the severity.”

The researchers used replicated research plots on UD’s Newark Farm, as well as the University of Maryland’s Wye Research and Education Center, and conducted their research by placing mesh bags over developing ears of corn and then artificially infesting those bags with different densities of brown marmorated stink bugs at different plant growth stages for a period of seven days.

Cissel said the results showed that brown marmorated stink bugs cause a significant amount of damage in sweet corn by piercing through the husk leaves and feeding on developing ears and kernels.

The researchers determined that the greatest

potential for yield loss happened when infestations occurred during earlier stages of ear development, whereas the greatest reductions in quality — damaged kernels — occurred during later stages of ear development.

“We looked at feeding that occurs prior to and during pollination, before the kernels even begin to develop, and we found that brown marmorated stink bug feeding injury can result in aborted kernels. The reason we think that’s the case is because they’re actually interrupting pollination by damaging some of the silk channels,” said Cissel.

The research team also found that while the bags filled with the higher densities of brown marmorated stink bugs saw the most damage to the corn, the stink bugs are capable of causing substantial economic losses due to quality reductions at densities as low as one bug per ear of corn.

Cissel said that the milk stage was determined to be the most sensitive stage of

corn development, with the highest number of damaged kernels observed when compared to the two earlier stages, but stressed that they did see high levels of kernel damage at all the stages.

“I think of it this way: prior to pollination, they’re feeding on developing ear tissue and causing damage to the ear where kernels could ultimately be and the kernels never develop. After pollination has occurred they’re feeding on individual kernels,” said Cissel. “The milk stage seems to be the most important, but having said that, we did see some pretty high levels of kernel injury at all the growth stages that would likely result in quality reductions for sweet corn growers.”

Now that the study is complete, Cissel said that the researchers are hoping to take their findings from the study and figure out the best times to apply pesticides to manage brown marmorated stink bugs in processing and fresh market sweet corn for growers in Delaware.

“We plan to take the findings from that study in which we identified these different plant growth stages that are important for managing brown marmorated stink bugs in sweet corn to prevent economic losses from occurring and target those timings with insecticide applications to see how or if we can achieve control by focusing on these key timings,” said Cissel.

Richard Levine is editor and head writer of Entomology Today, the official blog of the Entomological Society of America.

Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is a Board Certified Entomologist for Viking Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware. He is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens.

He can be reached at 800-618-2847 or visit www.vikingpest.com

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 11

The Design Process: Conceptual Design – Form vs. Function Part 2

By Brian Bosenberg “Form (ever) follows function,” originally coined by the architect Louis Sullivan in 1896 and at times misquoted as “form follows function” articulates that the basic form of design directly follows its primary function.

Historically speaking, the idea of how we transform the landscape has evolved over many years. In France, Louis XIV’s royal court of Versailles (1682) was implemented without much concern for natural resources or features of the land. However, in 1935, architect Frank Lloyd Wright created Falling Water, where both building and landscape take their design cues from the natural surroundings, exemplifying “form (ever) follows function.”

Twenty-first century buildings and landscapes all have similar constraints including budgets, municipal laws and client Aretha Franklin and Rodney Dangerfield were asking for a little respect.

That’s what your lawn needs to be happy and healthy. You will also be happy to know that a great looking lawn and home landscape can add 10percent or more value to your home.

Studies show that visual improvements to your home both inside and out pay dividends. A great looking green lawn stands out in the crowd. I just visited my friend Paul’s new house in Delaware and even though the season is early, his lawn looks much better compared to his neighbors’.

Why? Because he fed his lawn last fall. The lawn was only installed last spring and it looks great. How can it be so much better than his neighbors’? Many of his neighbors’ lawns are light green and look “choppy.”

By choppy, I mean the grass height of growth is all over the board and very inconsistent in color, but Paul’s lawn, having

requirements. But unlike buildings, the development of the site and landscape often requires the landscape architect to work within an existing set of natural, everchanging parameters.

The needs and desires of the client are often combined with the attributes and constraints of the property, revealed during the site analysis. These findings can vary tremendously from site to site. In some cases, the form of the existing features may dictate the functions and the development of the landscape site plan.

The conceptual design process explores several solutions in an attempt to find the best fit for both the client and the natural features of the site.

Anything can be created, but the landscape architect strives to be cognizant to natural features and develop a sensitive solution for the project or site.

In landscape architecture, the design goes beyond mere function to create an aesthetically appealing

space while continuing to meet the end user’s needs. If the original statement, form (ever) follows function, were used in its simplest form, it would seem that there would be only one solution to a problem.

For example, the function of leading individuals from point A to point B, in form would be the shortest distance between two points, a line. The solution of this function is very straightforward. What if the desire is something greater, to create an experience or develop excitement in the landscape? If the designer is required to emulate a particular feeling, emotion or experience as its primary function or goal, the form begins to take precedence over the function. The goal still remains the same, but how it is shaped becomes the priority.

At the conceptual design phase, we ask many questions. What are the client’s, needs, desires, budget and time frame?

What regulations are being

imposed by state, local or other governing bodies that will impact the project?

What are the existing site features discovered during the site analysis? How will watercourses, changes in elevation, soils, sun exposure, etc. influence the design?

Adding in human emotion and personal preferences, the design solution becomes more complicated. Sometimes, the more variables added, the more unique the design will be. The best designs are often are created when designer and client communicate and work closely together to obtain the desired result. Conceptual design is a fluid process that changes continually as the many layers of the property become apparent during the design process.

The design process begins to reveal how the proposed functions of the site can be achieved. As the goals for the design and the project are adjusted, revisions to the design are

Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Show your lawn a little RESPECT been maintained properly with feeding, mowing and watering looks great. All it takes is a little respect.

It is early-spring, time to plan to see if you are going to do anything different to improve your lawn this year.What grade did you give your lawn last year, an A, C or D-?

Did you show it any respect? I’m sure when you drive around your neighborhood you notice certain lawns that look significantly better than others. Why is that so?

Usually in life, when you put something in, you get something back in return.

The same goes for your lawn. If you only fed your lawn one or two times last year and your neighbor fed theirs three or four

times, their lawn will win “the best lawn in town” contest.

Did you ever take a shovel to your soil and observe it? First of all, can you even get the shovel into the ground, or is it so compacted you cannot dig more than three to four inches deep? If your soil is that compacted, how can you expect little grass plants and roots to establish themselves and survive?

Is this an area where drainage is a problem and water sits and compacts the soil? Perhaps you need to aerate and add some soil amendments such as gypsum to “loosen” your soil? If you have an abundance of earthworms, they are an indication of

healthy soil. Does your soil seem moist and able to hold water or a dusty, sand composition that will retain little if any water? Perhaps you need a dose of some organic lawn foods in your lawn program to build a better growing environment for your lawn.

If you have bare spots, of course you should re-seed them with quality grass seed. If you do not sow seed in these bare areas, they will fill in with crabgrass and other weeds that already exist in the soil. The best way to grow a great lawn is to have wonderful soil and quality grass seed. Once you have these two keys ingredients, you need to feed the grass during

to be expected. The length of the design process varies from project to project and is only the beginning of the larger process that will lead to implementation of the design. As the hard design details are worked out, the design will continue to be refined to fit the feasibility of a client’s desires, site constraints, municipal requirements, construction timeline and ultimately the project budget.

The big question… does form (ever) follow function?

No! It may at times, but not always, at least not in the fluid canvas of the landscape.

Editor’s Note: Brian W. Bosenberg is a practicing landscape architect licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine and Vermont, and a principal in the firm of Bosenberg & Company Landscape Architects, Far Hills, N.J. He can be reached at 908-234-0557, info@bwbosenberg.com or www.bwbosenberg.com the growing season from early-spring through late-fall. Lawn grasses hibernate in the winter like bears, but, like bears, your lawn likes to be woken up with a spring feeding.

Some lawns green-up earlier than others in spring because they were fed in late-fall the prior year. This should be a regular practice in your fall lawn care program.

Remember, it’s early in the year and you have plenty of time to get a great lawn this year. Be sure to feed your lawn twice this spring before rough summer weather approaches. Be proud of your lawn, show it a little respect this year and you will be rewarded. Maybe a few cars will slow down or stop to look at your great-looking lawn. Good luck and enjoy your lawn!

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

12 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

Gardener News is Now Accepting Nominations for its

2017

Person of the Year Award.

Do you know someone in the “Green Industry� whose contributions deserve recognition?

This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the green industry.

The deadline for receiving nominations for 2017 is November 1, 2017.

Gardener News annually bestows our “Person of the Year�

Award in our January edition.

To download the form, please visit www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year� link on the left side.

Thank you!

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Creating Pollinator Centers formulating and designing the signage took place last summer, over a three month period, involving the input of Diana Kazazis, President of Rake & Hoe Garden Club in Westfield and Vice Chair of the GCNJ Butterflies & BeeGAP committee, Sam Roche, manager and graphic designer for G1 Graphics in Newark, N.J., and me as Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair.

We decided that we would develop a series of six pollinator signs which would include a Monarch Butterfly sign, a Black Swallowtail Butterfly sign and a multibutterfly sign that pictured the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, the Great Spangled Fritillary and the Painted Lady. The signs depict the butterflies’ host plants necessary for their caterpillars’ survival, and their nectar plants for the adult butterfly from early- to late-season, and is a mix of native plants and introduced plants that garden centers either carry already or are able to obtain from New

Jersey growers.

We also developed a sign entitled “Nectar Plants for Bees,� with photos of a Bumble Bee, Honey Bee and Blue Orchard Mason Bee with their nectar plants from early- to late-season.

The fifth sign is our Planting for Birds sign and features photos of the Ruby Throated Hummingbird, the Baltimore Oriole and the Goldfinch, and lists their nectar plants, seeds and fruiting plants and nesting plants. The sixth sign is our “custom�

Pollinator Center sign and is the “welcome� sign to the pollinator section. It details the names of the participating partners.

The Pollinator signs are available in two sizes: 24 inches wide by 36 inches high and 18 inches wide by 24 inches high. They are a durable UV Ray vinyl coated, corrugated plastic and can be used indoors or outdoors and are available single or double sided, depending on where they’re displayed. Letter size

(Continued from page 1) handouts are available also.

We are currently working on a banner suggested by Dave Williams of Williams Nursery in Westfield, and posters suggested by Jeanette Leeds, District 7 Director of The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., who is a former teacher and would like to see them in schools throughout New Jersey. You can view the signage details, including costs, at our website: www. gardenclubofnewjersey.com.

Our initial goal last summer was to have the signs available to showcase at the 10-day New Jersey State Fair Sussex Farm & Horse Show that was held August 4, 2016-August 14, 2016. They were completed the day before (set-up day) and we delivered the initial set to Donaldson’s Garden Center in Hackettstown on our way up to the show at the behest of Warren Garden Club, who were dogged in their determination to educate their fellow citizens in Warren County to grow

our pollinator population, as they provide one-third of the food we eat.

Pictured not long afterward on Donaldson’s website was a photo of the Pollinator Center sign with a large container of parsley next to it and a very fat and happy black swallowtail caterpillar chomping away (for those of you who are loath to share, just remember they are helping you by “pinching� the plant back and making it bushier). Of course, there are those of us who grow fennel, dill, parsley and rue just to feed our state butterfly’s caterpillar.

I won’t mention names.

While we were up at the NJ State Fair at the Sussex Fairgrounds with our educational exhibit in the beautiful Conservatory, we met Charles Fisher, Executive Director of Montclair Foundation Van Vleck House & Gardens.

Director Fisher was there as part of the Garden State Consortium’s outstanding

display and came over to view our exhibit. This “chance� meeting let me realize that public/private gardens, museums, schools and arboretums would want to showcase these in their gardens, along with the garden centers and nurseries that we had envisioned them for. It didn’t take long, after a few emails and phone calls, for The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. to “gift� the complete set to Van Vleck House & Gardens, and we were subsequently treated to a personal tour of the gardens

by Executive Director Fisher and Director of Education, Michelle Wiessner.

In attendance, too, were Montclair Garden Club President Deborah Hirsch and friend. I found out later that the butterfly garden was a memorial to GCNJ Symposium Chair Brenda Bingham’s brother. It was a perfect day as they shared with us that they had dozens of Black Swallowtail and Monarch (Cont. on page 14)

GardenerNews.com Well…it’s still cold, still snowing, still raining and freezing (my absolute favorite element… NOT), sometimes below zero, sometimes the wind chill goes right through all my layers. But at home there is something that I really look forward to seeing clean, look forward to using and love to keep it stocked and ready.

Has anyone guessed what I am talking about?

Yup, my living room 1920s-era Rumford fireplace!

Highly efficient yet very small, Rumford’s like mine look good and burn well. The shallow side angled firebox heats the room better because the fire is up front and it “sees” more of the room. And, another way to look at it is, you see more of the fire.

A three-log fire looks bigger in a shallow Rumford because it’s more up front.

Mine is all brick with a stone apron and a wooden frame with a nice big mantle that holds the family photos and a pair of “oh-oh the power went out” candles. The bricks for the fireplace go all the way down into the basement and rest on bedrock, adding substantial strength to the overall house.

March, 2017 13 The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

My Favorite Ancillary Home Part I said to myself, there has to be a Mr. Rumford and during a Google trip I found this. Born as Benjamin Thompson (hmmm?), he was born in rural Woburn, Mass., on March 26, 1753; his birthplace is preserved to this day as a museum. He was educated mainly at the village school, although he would attend lectures by Professor John Winthrop at Harvard College. While working with the British armies in America (a traitor!), he conducted experiments to measure the force of gunpowder, the results of which were widely acclaimed when published in 1781 in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. On the strength of this, he arrived in London at the end of the Revolutionary War with a reputation as a

scientist (and Redcoat traitor!).

Thompson then started conducted experiments concerning the nature of heat. In 1785, he moved to Bavaria, where he became an aide-de-camp to the Princeelector Charles Theodore. He spent 11 years in Bavaria, reorganizing the army and establishing workhouses for the poor. He studied methods of cooking, heating and lighting, including the relative costs and efficiencies of wax candles, tallow candles, and oil lamps.

He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1789. For his efforts, in 1791 Thompson was made a Count of the Holy Roman Empire and he took the name “Rumford” for Rumford, N.H., which was an

older name for the town of Concord, where he had been married, becoming Reichsgraf von Rumford.

Now, Count Rumford decided to apply his extensive knowledge of heat to the improvement of fireplaces, the main house-warming device of the time. He made them smaller and shallower, with widely angled covings to reflect more heat. He also streamlined the throat to eliminate turbulence and carry away the smoke with little loss of heated room air. My flue is a long, thin, slotted metal strip that slides back and forth to open and close.

Count Rumford created a sensation in London when he introduced the idea of restricting the chimney opening to increase the updraft. He and his workers changed fireplaces

by inserting bricks into the hearth to make the side walls angled and added a choke to the chimney to increase the speed of air going up the flue. It effectively produced a streamlined air flow, so all the smoke would go up into the chimney rather than lingering and often choking the residents.

Many fashionable London houses were modified to his instructions and became smoke-free. He became a celebrity when news of his success became widespread.

Almost immediately in the 1790s, his “Rumford fireplace” became state-ofthe-art worldwide. And lo and behold, 227 years later I am enjoying his smoke-free home heating efforts that pretty much instantly heat my entire living room, where I can bask in comfort, drink old Cabernets and Bordeauxs and snack on sumptuous hors d’ oeuvres, even on the most brutal winter day.

Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Check out Richard’s photography at; rwperkinsphotography.com

Wild Plant Families of New Jersey 1: Mustards

By Hubert Ling After teaching botany and biology for 33 years, I see no reason to stop just because I retired. So here is a short note on mustards of the family brassicaceae (cruciferaceae).

I like the older family name since it refers to the fact that mustards have four petals in the shape of a Greek cross. According to Audubon Society botanist Karl Anderson, there are 67 types of mustards growing wild in New Jersey, although 45 of these are from abroad, and three: garlic mustard, Dame’s rocket, and bitter winter cress, are very invasive aliens.

The agriculturally important crucifers include mustards, cresses, radishes, cabbages, broccolis, and cauliflower. As an annual rite of spring, you will soon see wild mustard collectors along roadsides happily harvesting this year’s abundant crop.

Besides four petals, mustards have four sepals and six

stamens, frequently with four tall stamens and two short ones.

Mustards are edible to people in moderate amounts, but some taste better than others and you must be sure you have the right family of plants! However, hoary alyssum, an invasive mustard, is toxic to horses.

Commercial mustard, the kind you use on your hot dogs, is made from the ground seeds of white/yellow mustard, Sinapis alba. Mustard gas, a completely synthetic product used in World War I, has nothing to do with mustard plants; however the gas is generally yellow and the smell is similar to that of crushed mustard plants.

Crucifers are a unique group, since they do not form mycorrhizae (mutualistic relationships with fungi).

Mycorrhizae (fungus “roots”) are essential to orchids, Indian pipe, and most pinelands plants on sandy soil, since the fungi pass along essential minerals and water to higher plants in an otherwise hostile

environment where resources are limited.

However, mustards have decided to go it alone, possibly because many fungi are not beneficial and cause disease. In fact, there is concern, since garlic mustard releases copious amounts of fungus inhibitors into the soil, uncommon plants such as Indian pipe may be exterminated.

Most gardens in New Jersey will just feature members of the mustard/cabbage family in the vegetable areas. The latest member to join this highly prized family is arugula, which now is frequently found in salad mixes. Another interesting crucifer is sea rocket (Cakile edentula) which is a succulent common on New Jersey beaches just above the high tide line. The plant is of course very resistant to salt spray and can be irrigated with 80-percent sea water. The leaves and young seed pods are very fleshy with a salty crisp texture. They would make a very interesting salty pickle. This and similar

plants are being investigated as sources of renewable edible and fuel oils.

Most mustards have small white or yellow flowers and are generally not raised as ornamental flowers.

An exception to this rule is moneywort or honesty, which is grown for those coin-shaped, translucent membranes housed inside round seed pods. In addition, some people mistakenly grow the showy purple Dames’ rocket, which may suddenly take over your yard.

A few of the native crucifers should be used as ornamentals primarily because they grow well in shady areas, bloom in earlyspring before almost anything else, behave themselves, and don’t go invasive. These are the four toothworts of New Jersey: slender (Cardamine angustata), cut-leaf (C. concatenate), two-leaved (C. diphylla), and large toothwort (C. maxima).

All these plants have bright, cheerful white flowers long before most

other plants have started to grow. In fact, they are true spring ephemerals which sprout in shady areas before the trees leaf out; grow quickly, flower, and set seed before the canopy closes up; by early-July they are just a memory.

As early-blooming plants, toothworts are very useful to support early emerging pollinators. Toothworts are propagated by seed or more often by fragmenting the fleshy rhizomes or small fleshy tubers.

These peppery toothwort rhizomes were used as seasoning by many Native American tribes or allowed to ferment a week or so after which they were much milder. Try snacking on young garlic mustard or bitter cress and make New Jersey great again.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is the Horticulture Chairman for the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net

14 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

Creating Pollinator Centers chrysalises, with some hatching out last summer and some (Black Swallowtail) chrysalises overwintering to hatch out this coming May. How glorious! That day, Van Vleck House & Gardens hosted several classes of schoolchildren from Newark and it was a thrill to see these children interact with nature and the wildlife program provided to inspire a lifelong affinity for nature. Director Fisher was in his glory as he interacted with the children, a rewarding experience for all.

We worked with “template” gardens including Hionis Greenhouses & Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, Kingwood Gardens and J & J Landscaping and Garden Center in Flemington.

Garden clubs who have already partnered with garden centers/nurseries and ordered signs include: Belvidere Garden Club partnering with Wellsweep Herb Farm in Port Murray; Rake & Hoe Garden Club and Garden Club of Westfield co-partnering

with Williams Nursery in Westfield; Karen Nash Butterfly Jr. Garden Club partnering with Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden; Garden Club of Hunterdon Hills partnering with Four Seasons Greenery in Lebanon; Garden Gate Garden Club of Ewing (they ordered several pollinator signs); Floraphile Garden Club of Cranford partnering with Dreyer Farms; Neshanic Garden Club partnering with The Gardeners’ Nook; Ambleside Gardens & Nursery; Blooms of Belle Mead and Ann Van Middlesworth Sensory Garden in Hillsborough; Navesink Garden Club partnering with Colonial Nursery and Molzon Nursery and Chester Garden Club partnering with Plant Detectives; and Basking Ridge Garden Club partnering with Great Swamp Greenhouses.

Holly Club of Sea Girt, Pinelands Garden Club, Garden Club of Rockaway Valley, Community Garden Club of Hunterdon, Garden Club of Long Valley,

(Continued from page 12) Shrewsbury Garden Club, Fairways Garden Club, Rahway Garden Club and Town and Country Garden Club of Chatham are looking to partner with garden centers/ nurseries, public/private gardens/schools and museums in their area, with Navesink Garden Club partnering with Monmouth Museum.

Jim Avens, Manager of Horticulture for Leonard J. Buck Garden is ordering Pollinator signage sets to display at Leonard J. Buck Garden, Colonial Park and the Environmental Education Center at Lord Stirling Park.

Lee Shahay, Horticulture Specialist for Francis E. Parker Memorial Home, Inc. will be ordering sets for their dynamic retirement homes.

We recently reached out to GCNJ President Susan O’Donnell and the decision was made to gift each District Director with a complete set of 12 signs plus 125 handouts to loan out to garden clubs as the District Directors were borrowing our educational

sets as the handouts don’t do justice to the signs.

We also asked each District Director (they are the liaisons between the garden clubs and The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.) to pick out an arboretum, public garden, etc. in their district to receive the signage, including the custom Pollinator Center sign when they have exhausted all possible venues.

We were thrilled to receive the following choices: District 1 chose New Jersey Botanical Garden, District 2 (hasn’t chosen yet), District 3 chose Frelinghuysen Arboretum, District 4 chose Leonard J. Buck Garden, District 5 chose Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, District 6 chose Rutgers Gardens, District 7 chose Camden Children’s Garden and District 8 chose Rutgers Master Gardeners of Monmouth County. Our hope is to populate the state with these signs, as the feedback has been extraordinary from garden centers already onboard stating the positive

reaction from garden staff and the gardening public.

We’re looking forward to showcasing these signs to the green community at the NJ Plants Trade Show. A special thanks to Jim Yarish of Townsquare Expo Group and the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association for inviting us to participate in this outstanding show.

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Community Gardens Chair, the Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair and the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Chair for The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc., Accredited Life Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club and her email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com The Garden Club of New Jersey website is: www.gardenclubofnewjersey. com and phone number is: 732-249-0947.

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 15

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16 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

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GardenerNews.com

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GardenerNews.com

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Making Spinach with Low Oxalate Levels

By Sharon Durham Public Affairs Specialist Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists identified 8 spinach varieties that have low oxalate levels, which is sometimes linked to better health. Oxalic acid, or “oxalate,” is a naturally occurring plant chemical and in the human diet it’s been linked to kidney stone formation. It also can react with calcium, iron, and other minerals to inhibit mineral absorption.

Scientists with the ARS’s Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit in Salinas, California, and the University of Arkansas conducted a study to find genetic components related to oxalate concentrations in spinach. By analyzing the genetic code of 310 spinach varieties, ARS geneticist Beiquan Mou and his university colleagues identified 6 DNA markers linked to genes that contribute to oxalate levels and may be useful for breeders in reducing oxalate concentrations.

The scientists analyzed oxalate concentrations in 300 USDA

germplasm accessions and 10 commercial cultivars and found oxalate concentrations that ranged from 647.2 to 1,286.9 milligrams (mg) per 100 grams on fresh weight basis, according to Mou. They also found 8 accessions with less than 780 mg per 100 grams based on fresh weight that may be useful as sources of low oxalate concentration genes in breeding efforts.

Spinach contains higher concentrations of oxalate than most crops, but it is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide and it’s considered healthful because of its high concentration of a number of key nutrients Foods such as beets, rhubarb, strawberries, nuts, chocolate, tea, wheat bran, and almost all dry beans also are known to increase oxalate in the urine and may contribute to kidney stone formation.

Editor’s Note: Sharon Durham works for the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

She can be reached at 301504-1651 or by emailing Sharon.Durham@ars.usda.gov

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 19

20 March, 2017 Should all landscape contractors in the state of New Jersey be licensed? This is a question that has been hovering over our industry for decades.

There are two sides to the answer of this question. The less government involvement in business, the better. The government is only interested in generating income for themselves and that would hold true if we were required to be licensed.

If licensing was activated and monitored properly, however, the contractors that aren’t doing things properly would face penalties, large fines, revocation of their license and possible jail time.

One of the failures of the current licensing system we have in New Jersey is the Contractor’s Registration Act of January 1, 2006. The Act establishes a mandatory registration program for contractors who are in the business of selling or making improvements in New Jersey.

This Act was initiated by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs. This Act was to supersede any municipal law or regulation that provides for the licensing or regulation of home improvement contractors.

We all know how this is going.

It’s been 11 years since this has

GardenerNews.com The NJLCA Today

By Nelson Lee Association President

Landscape licensing, pro and con been in effect, and I have never heard of anyone being fined, let alone being stopped by any official for not having a license.

Requiring a landscape license would allow those contractors who are running their companies legitimately by the rules to become more professional. Those who have general liability insurance, commercial vehicle insurance, workmen’s compensation insurance and trained and qualified employees will benefit. Licensing would decrease the “fly-by-nights” that pop up, and most don’t have insurance of any sort, as they pay their employees cash and charge less than a licensed contractor may charge due to their lack of overhead.

Licensing also helps employees.

Workmen’s compensation would be a requirement to obtain a license, so if a worker is injured on

the job or laid off, there are resources workers can fall back on. Consumers will benefit from hiring a licensed contractor because they will know that the landscape professional has met the state’s minimum standards for all insurances and have qualified people working on their homes.

Enforcement would be a small hurdle, but if done properly, will deter those unwanted so-called landscapers from entering into an industry they have no business being involved in. Perhaps some sort of shared responsibility between the state and each municipality would help increase the amount of eyes on violators of the license.

Right now California has licensing under the California Code of Regulation, Title 16, Division 8 which states: “A landscape contractor constructs, maintains, repairs, installs, or

subcontracts the development of landscape systems and facilities for public and private gardens and other areas which are designed to aesthetically, architecturally, horticulturally, or functionally improve the grounds within or surrounding a structure or a tract or plot of land. In connection therewith, a landscape contractor prepares and grades plots and areas of land for the installation of any architectural, horticultural and decorative treatment or arrangement.”

North Carolina also has a law known as The Landscape Contractors Law Chapter 89D which “is a statute which regulates landscape contracting in North Carolina; thereby safeguarding life, health, and property and maintaining a high professional standard for the landscape industry.”

The law states , in part, that “no person shall engage

in the practice of landscape construction or contracting, use the designation ‘landscape contractor,’ or advertise using any title or description that implies licensure as a landscape contractor unless the person is licensed as a landscape contractor by the North Carolina Landscape Contractor’s’ Licensing Board.”

Both of these states have successfully created and implemented licensing and have found it to be very effective.

There maybe some opposition on this hot topic, but one thing is for sure, we need to raise the standards of our industry and be able to charge our clients accordingly for the job they can’t or may not want to do themselves.

If you have any feedback on this topic, please email me at NLee@njlca.org. I’d like to know what you think.

Editor’s Note: Nelson Lee is president of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He is also Founder and President of Landscapeworks, Inc., Advanced Mulch Services, Inc. and Advanced Hauling.

Lee can be reached at nlee@landscapeworks.net or by calling the NJLCA at 201703-3600.

New Grant Funding Available to Assist New Jersey Farmers Installing Deer Fencing to Protect Crops on Preserved Farms New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher announced that the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) is offering a new program to provide costsharing grants to New Jersey farmers to assist with installing deer fencing on permanently preserved farms to protect against crop losses.

“Deer cause several millions dollars in crop losses each year in New Jersey,” said Secretary Fisher. “Fencing can be an effective tool to prevent this, but many farmers simply cannot afford to pay the full cost. This new program will provide matching funds to help farmers install fencing to protect their crops while furthering the public’s investment in farmland preservation by helping to maximize the agricultural productivity of the land.”

The SADC will provide 50 percent matching grants to qualifying established farmers for the cost of fencing materials and installation. The maximum grant award is $200 per acre of preserved farmland owned or $20,000 total. The SADC will make at least $500,000 available for the program this fiscal year. The funds will be derived from a portion of the SADC’s State farmland preservation monies that are allocated to promoting stewardship activities on preserved farms.

Applications will be ranked and prioritized for available funding based on criteria including deer density per square mile, crop type to be fenced, hunting status on the farm and adjacent properties, and farmer military status. The ranking system awards additional points to applications from military veteran farmers – those who served at any time since September 11, 2001 and were honorably discharged or released – to support veterans who are transitioning to careers in agriculture.

An application form and the SADC’s deer fencing policy are available on the SADC’s website at www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/. Applications must be received by the SADC by March 23, 2017 in order to be considered for grant funding. Funding for the deer fencing program is subject to appropriation by the Legislature.

The SADC administers New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program and promotes innovative approaches to maintaining the viability of agriculture. To date, more than 2,400 farms covering approximately 225,000 acres have been preserved under the State Farmland Preservation Program.

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 21

22 March, 2017 Whether you are using an organic natural system of plant healthcare or not, knowing what is going on in the soil we are treating is of paramount importance. This knowledge can steer us to be good stewards of the environment by using sound procedures and environmentally friendly products.

A dramatic difference is that we are implementing procedures which in time will amend the soil and render the plants living in the soil capable of developing a relationship by allowing the plants to derive nourishment from the soil as needed. Simply stated, if we test the soil and amend what we can to put the soil profile more in balanced position, then the microbial activity will take what we give it and produce the necessary medium for strong, healthy roots and thriving plants, a medium rich in organic matter, microorganisms and many minerals and nutrients.

This is a process which takes a fair amount of research to achieve. When investigating the soil, all of the readily available tests will determine pH, nutrient values and the percentage of organic matter.

GardenerNews.com The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

What’s up with my soil?

These are essential readings which will point to any deficiencies or imbalances in the soil.

As this winter has been relatively mild, we can start now with samples taken from multiple spots in the lawn and separately from the bedding areas. When this data is received, recommendations can be made to improve soil health and these may differ from the lawn to the bedding areas. The pH can be amended and often with the use of high calcium lime, the calcium/magnesium ratio can be affected. Trying to achieve a 10-to-one ratio will be helpful in plant healthcare.

Many in-depth soil tests can evaluate the micro climate in the soil. Knowing the amount and balance of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and others, will help in developing

a natural organic program as well. It is possible to introduce microbes into the soil through the application process. Also, knowing the amount and balance of these organisms will aid in applying the proper food for them.

Records should be kept of the results and recommendations, as the tests should be repeated at least every three years to track the soil’s health. If there are problems which are identified yearly or every other year, the soil made need to be tested to see how the applications are working. As these results, recommendations and the subsequent applications are recorded, historical data relating to the site’s soil health will be accumulated, making the job of plant healthcare a more informed decision.

Some soil tests will measure

the amount of heavy metals in the soil. Most of these are naturally occurring in the environment in very small quantities. Much of the past pollution such as smokestack emissions and the use of lead fuels and lead paint, sewage sludge and biosolids, as well as some pesticide and pressure-treated lumber use have contributed to the increase in heavy metals.

If an area is identified to be higher in heavy metals than is usual, the less disturbance the better is a safe approach.

Covering these areas with turf or ground covers as well as mulching can reduce the amount of any exposure. Usually, the amounts are not found to be in dangerous percentages and these simple steps can eliminate any apprehension.

In the design process, these areas can be identified and

properly dealt with, as they are often found when there is a dramatic change in land usage, such as a formerly commercial property or plant, which is now being subdivided for housing.

During the planting process, care should be taken to eliminate the addition of any products which do not readily decompose or may have any toxic residual. The simple steps, such as removing synthetic burlaps or using geotextiles which contain no polyvinyl chloride, will reduce chemical exposure as well as improve the health of the plants in use.

The use of recycled materials is a good choice as well, as stone and masonry products, natural and processed, are good choices because they provide no leachates. As always, your landscape professional or garden canter can help with this process.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

SLYDE™ Flashlight and Work light Scientists Give an Old Elm Tree a

High-Tech Helping Hand

By Jan Suszkiw

The SLYDE™ is 2 lights in 1. It’s a powerful LED flashlight, emitting 250 lumens of intense white light.

The head of the flashlight slides forward from the handle, revealing a powerful 190 lumen LED work light.

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Public Affairs Specialist In front of the city hall building in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, there’s a weathered old elm tree that’s seen more than 200 years of American history. Throughout those centuries, it has withstood bouts of Dutch elm disease and poundings from brutal storms like 2012’s Hurricane Sandy.

This winter, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers will take a high-tech approach to ensuring the genetic heritage of that tree—the town’s oldest resident.

Under an agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will “cryopreserve” twigs cut from the aging tree’s branches—in essence, storing them in a flash-frozen state for decades and quite possibly, centuries.

The original plan was to cryopreserve the elm’s seeds, notes Christina Walters, a plant physiologist with ARS’s National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado. However, there were no embryos within the seed—probably because there were

no other surviving elms nearby to pollinate the flowers.

The elm was planted around 1815 and today is considered a symbol of the coastal town’s strength and ties to both New Jersey’s and the nation’s history. However, officials worried the elm’s advanced age would ultimately make it too hazardous to remain standing. They reached out to ARS in hopes of preserving its genetic and historical legacy.

Since the seed couldn’t be used, Walters’ team decided to try cryopreserving cuttings from the tree’s twigs this winter—with help from a NJDEP crew—when temperatures are at their coldest.

This spring, they will also try other approaches to obtaining seed.

To Walters, the technical challenge of cryopreserving the elm is consistent with the laboratory’s overarching mission, which is to safeguard not only important plant genetic resources, but also those of animals and microorganisms.

Editor’s Note: Jan Suszkiw works for the USDAAgricultural Research Service. She can be reached at 301-504-1630 or by emailing Jan.Suszkiw@ars.usda.gov

GardenerNews.com A few months back, I posed a question to all our employees, “What do you wish our customers knew about the gardening industry?”

Sort of a homework assignment for them, I gave them the weekend to ponder their ideas and give their best answers. Here is what I considered to be their top answers to my question.

As professionals in our industry our total employee count, at our garden center, multiplied by the number of years we have in the industry, equates to hundreds of years of combined experience in our respective field.

We may care more about the plants you’re buying than you do.

We really care about advising you correctly!

There are considerable differences in the quality of nursery stock offered to the public.

Cultivars are plant varieties that have been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. They are special varieties and will cost more than generic ones.

Topsoil is exactly what the name implies; it is the soil removed from the surface of the earth. It will certainly have some small stone and other

In my world of community forestry, there are some trees that people just love to hate… even if it’s a good tree. For me, that tree is London Plane.

London plane, Platanus x acerifolia, is a supposed hybrid between our native American sycamore (P. occidentalis) and its Asian counterpart, P. orientalis. Often called plane tree or sycamore (which it is not!), it is a common street and park tree in New Jersey.

Growing up to 100 feet in height, and with trunk diameters up to 60 inches, it is an impressive tree. Leaves are maple-shaped, with no significant fall color, but it’s the bark that impresses.

With age the bark exfoliates, revealing patches of tan, green, cream and white. I find it to be absolutely beautiful.

It makes an excellent street tree for many reasons. One is that it develops an open, airy crown, with large scaffold branches and few small twigs. This allowed it to be planted under overhead wires, and with proper pruning could allow wires to pass through. Old trees generally only require pruning to clean out dead twigs and branches every few years, making it much less maintenance than pin oaks or

March, 2017 23 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Truths From Our Trusted Employees small particles in it.

Topsoil is not garden soil or potting soil.

Like other professional industries; our job doesn’t end when we go home. We constantly search for better solutions, better products and attend continuing educational seminars year-round.

Planting vs. transplanting: You can safely transplant, dig a plant out of the ground, in any month that has the letter “R” in it. These are cooler months and less stressful for plants. May, June, July and August are warmer months and should be avoided. You can however, plant in any month that you can dig a hole in the ground.

Have realistic budgets for your projects please. Most can’t paint their entire home for $500.00 dollars. You also can’t landscape your entire home for the same amount.

There is NO stupid question… ask away!

There is no such thing as deer-proof! Deer-resistant is entirely different.

If you are considering special ordering a plant, the winter months give us time to source and coordinate trucking, if it is only one piece you need.

Plants are living, breathing things that can grow beyond the parameters of a textbook. Plants are not static pieces of outdoor furniture.

We work very hard to keep our plants looking good from the time we buy it to the time you buy it. Our efforts should not be forgotten once you purchase them.

We can only help a plant in distress, not a dead plant. Ask us for advice before the funeral.

We may cost a little more on some items, but our knowledge, experience, quality and service should overcome that.

Owning plants is not a spectator sport! We need you to participate in the health of your landscape.

Please ask us how to correctly install, mulch and water your plants.

Know your sunlight conditions. This is pivotal when selecting plant material.

When we recommend plants for your location, based on what you tell us, don’t change the conditions because you want different plants.

When you purchase your plants from us, you are supporting a local business that supports your community yearround.

If your “yard guy” is planting your plant purchase and can’t identify the plant in question, what confidences and assurances do you have that it will survive?

We love good solutions.

Figuring out the right plant for

Tree Notes

By Steve Schuckman NJ Certified Tree Expert

London Plane … or is it Sycamore? red maple.

Second, it is a rock-solid tree. With large root systems and hard wood, failure in wellmaintained trees is uncommon.

In my communities, we have hundreds of old London plane, and we rarely pick up large limbs. Due to its large size, it casts excellent shade, and London plane-lined streets are wonderfully cool in summer.

London plane is easy to transplant in spring and grows quickly, and even in youth, it is as tough as nails.

Unlike American sycamore, London plane is also resistant to sycamore anthracnose, a foliar disease of young tender leaves. Anthracnose can cause significant leaf drop in spring, especially in cool, wet weather, which promotes the disease.

Although new leaves will replace those aborted, repeated

infections can cause stress and decline. The London plane cultivars “Bloodgood” and “Columbia” seem to be very resistant to anthracnose.

On the other side, plane tree is susceptible to bleeding canker, which can be very damaging.

Entering the tree through pruning wounds or mechanical damage, canker may weaken and kill the tree. Pruning should only be performed in winter, and we remove severely-infected trees.

Sadly, it is often transmitted through dirty pruning saws after pruning an infected tree.

So, what’s not to like about this tree? Well, it is a little “dirty.”

In summer, when the trunk expands and the bark flakes off, it can create quite a mess on sidewalks and on lawns. Wind will shake out little dead twigs, and the fruits – little round balls of achenes – fall apart into dusty

piles of fibers that can be quite messy. Emerging leaves are covered with fine hairs that are shed as the leaf matures, and these may cause an irritation in some people.

It also will enter sewer laterals, the pipe from your house to the street. It is not the tree’s fault; the tree is just taking advantage of a broken pipe (the tree DID NOT break the pipe!) filled with water and nutrients.

But try to tell that to a resident with a basement full of sewage.

It is one of the challenges of community forestry, keeping residents happy while preserving trees.

London plane is often pollarded, especially in Europe.

This pruning practice results in smaller, more manageable trees with a distinct shape, with main branches terminating in a swollen “knuckle,” from which each

the right space is very gratifying.

April and May are our busiest months; hence our selection is the largest it will be then.

It’s Clematis, not Chlamydia… LOL! Most of our employees are career professionals who take their job very seriously. Degrees in ornamental horticulture, landscape architecture, continuing education in landscape design, specialties in pruning, diagnostics with disease and pest management are qualities they possess.

A stellar team whose discipline in horticulture is staunch. Their commitment to providing the best customer service with the best possible outcome is paramount to us all.

We are lucky to have them and appreciate their efforts every day.

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

year’s new branches emerge.

It is more involved, requiring annual pruning to maintain the shape. It is rarely practiced in the United States, except in gardens.

So, how does one determine if a tree is a sycamore or a London plane? The easiest way is location. If it is a street tree, it is more than likely London plane. If it is growing along streams or rivers, in bottomlands or undeveloped sites, it is American sycamore.

I also find sycamore to be more white-colored in the upper crown. In the Midwest, where I grew up, along the Mississippi River, one can find American sycamores more than 100 feet tall. The New Jersey Grand Champion is almost 10 feet in diameter and 123 feet tall. Now that’s a tree!

Editor’s Note: Steve Schuckman is owner of First Mountain Aboriculture, which provides horticultural consulting and community forestry services.

He is currently the consulting forester for Bloomfield, Hawthorne, Maplewood, and Montclair, in New Jersey. He is also a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert. He can be reached at smschuckman@verizon.net

24 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

New Jersey Agricultural Convention The 102nd New Jersey State Agricultural Convention and Trade Show was held February 7-9 at the Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) hosted the convention in cooperation with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, the New Jersey Blueberry Association and Rutgers University’s New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES).

The 2017 convention and trade show opened Tuesday, February 7, with educational sessions held by the Vegetable Growers Association.

Highlights from the program include sessions on financial risk management and budgets, organic agriculture, sweet corn, farm brewery opportunities and regulations as well as drones and big data for agriculture. There were also in-depth workshops on opportunities and challenges for starting a vineyard, resources to help young and beginning farmers grow their direct marketing business and applying big data to small areas ʊ ILQH WXQLQJ SURGXFWLRQ DQG SHVW FRQWURO There were also lots of awards and recognitions given out by different agricultural organizations. One of this year’s awards went to a Gardener News columnist.

During the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s annual luncheon, Craig Korb, a featured columnist for the Gardener News and the Executive Chef for The Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette, Ocean County, N.J., received the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s Phillip Alampi Industry Marketing Award in Recognition of Outstanding Leadership and Performance in Marketing New Jersey’s Agricultural Products. Phillip Alampi served as the state’s agriculture chief for 26 years.

In late-June of 2010, discussions between Chef Korb and the Department of Agriculture took place to craft an all-Jersey dinner. The result of those discussions - The Crab’s Claw Inn officially partnered with the NJDA on July 22, 2010 to incorporate local, fresh produce and Jerseylanded seafood into their menu. Chef Korb officially plated up the first dinner on October 6, 2010 to a sold-out crowd.

In 2016, The Crab’s Claw Inn plated their 7th annual dinner on September 29. Korb insists each year that everything is locally grown, locally landed and locally sourced. He is very passionate about quality and great taste. And it must be in-season.

Korb also travels to farmer’s markets and local farms on his days off with his family and hand-selects fresh produce for his family’s meals and to source fresh produce for the restaurant. Korb also teaches his family about New Jersey sea farming and the very freshest catch.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Rob Swanekamp, left, President of the New Jersey Agricultural Society; Shannon Korb, second from left, The Crab’s Claw Inn; Executive Chef Craig Korb, second from right, The Crab’s Claw Inn; and Kristina Guttadora, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society, during the New Jersey Agricultural Society’s award luncheon on February 7.

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 25

Took Place February 7-9 in Atlantic City

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Steve Miller, center, from Cornell Cooperative Extension; joins Bill Bamka, left; Steve Komar, second from left; Bill Sciarappa, second from right; and Bill Hlubik, from Rutgers University Cooperative Extension at the Vegetable Growers Association Brewing Crops seminar on February 7.

The mission of the New Jersey Agricultural Society is to preserve and enhance agriculture, farming and related activities and business in New Jersey through educational, informational and promotional programs.

Because there is a strong interest among many craft brewers in the state and region to source locally grown ingredients for beermaking, the Vegetable Growers Association educational sessions included a full-day seminar on farm breweries. Attendees learned about what to expect as an on-farm brewery, the Rutgers University Brew Program and current Rutgers research, cultivation of New Jersey-produced ingredients, like malted barley and hops, N.Y. State’s Farm Brewery Law – Opportunities and Challenges for N.Y., and Production and Processing Realities of Producing Hops – N.Y. lesson.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Scott Ellis, owner of Ellis Farms in Hamilton, Mercer County, NJ and a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, welcomes farmers at the entrance to the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey Trade Show and Conference in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, N.J.

26 March, 2017 HELLO FRIENDS! We are about to embark on a totally different subject, other than gardening or the whole agricultural thing.

Monkfish, the bottomdwelling fish with a huge head, giant mouth and slender delicious body, which some compare to “poor man’s lobster.” Also known as an anglerfish, due to the fact that it has a spine-like lure built into its body which helps to attract prey. It is firm-textured , meaty and white with a sweet taste. It goes well in soups and stews, as well as being good sautéed, fried or broiled.

In some countries, such as Japan, its liver is considered a delicacy and is known as ankimo. It is very healthy, although not high in Omega 3s, it has a good amount of selenium, niacin, potassium, B6 and B12. In the U.S, it is found largely in the Northeast, with Massachusetts and Rhode Island leading New York and New Jersey.

It is definitely growing in popularity, and you should definitely be looking for it, more so in the cold months, at your local fish store or supermarket. If you don’t see it simply inquire about it. Like I said, it is very local and should be plentiful during

GardenerNews.com From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Tasty and healthy monkfish the colder months. Another great point is the fact that it’s generally reasonably priced compared to other fish such as tuna or wild salmon.

The recipe I will be writing about is a special I run at the restaurant every so often, especially during the cold months. It is a roasted, bacon-wrapped monkfish over a buttery smooth cauliflower puree with a chive oil drizzle.

Yes, a little more complicated than usual, only based on the amount of steps. So good luck and we’ll talk again in April.

Chive oil 1 bunch fresh chives, roughly chopped 1/2 cup light olive oil or vegetable oil -place both ingredients into a blender and blend until very smooth and processed -put into a small sauce pan and place on a burner over the lowest flame possible

-let sit until you just see it begin to simmer -remove from heat and pour through a fine meshed sieve or through cheesecloth, do not press on mixture, let it slowly drip for about 20 minutes or so -discard chive mixture and reserve chive oil Cauliflower puree -1 head of cauliflower, stem removed, cut or broken into smaller pieces -enough milk to cover cauliflower -salt and white pepper to taste -place cauliflower in a medium sized pot and add milk to just cover -cook over a low to medium flame until very tender, stirring occasionally -once tender, drain over a bowl, reserving the liquid -place half of the cauliflower into a blender or

Cooking Meatballs That Are Safe to Eat

By Dennis O'Brien Public Affairs Specialist Establishing a standard set of times and temperatures for safely cooking meatballs is challenging.

Chefs and consumers prepare them from different meats, store them at different temperatures (refrigerated and frozen), and cook them at different temperatures and for different times. They even use different types of cooking appliances.

Undercooked meatballs, however, are a potential source of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Each year, STEC cause an estimated 265,000 illnesses, 3,600 hospitalizations, and 30 deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Pennsylvania have determined some practical methods for safely cooking meatballs at home, in restaurants, or in commercial or institutional kitchens.

Anna C.S. Porto-Fett and John B. Luchansky, and their colleagues inoculated ground veal and ground beef with a cocktail of seven strains of STEC, mixed those samples with

eggs and breadcrumbs, and formed golf-ball sized meatballs. Some of the meatballs were frozen (-4°F) and others were kept in a refrigerator (39°F) for 18 hours prior to being cooked.

The frozen and refrigerated meatballs were then cooked at 350°F, in both a conventional oven and in a deep fryer using canola oil, for a wide range of times.

They found that deep-frying frozen meatballs for 9 minutes or oven baking them for 20 minutes reduced E. coli levels 100,000-fold, a target referred to as a “5-log reduction” that made them safe for consumption. The refrigerated meatballs required 5.5 minutes in the deep fryer and 12.5 minutes in the oven to achieve the same “5-log reduction.”

The findings, reported in the Journal of Food Protection, provide clear and practical parameters about safe cooking times and temperatures for food safety officials, restaurant and institutional kitchens and anyone cooking meatballs at home.

Editor’s Note: Dennis O’Brien works for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. He can be reached at 301-504-1486 or by emailing dennis.obrien@ars.usda.gov

food processor and add 1/2 cup of the milk -puree until very smooth and silky, adding a little more milk if necessary -season to taste with salt and white pepper -repeat with the rest of the cauliflower, you will more than likely have extra milk, which can be discarded -puree should be smooth and thick, but thinner than mashed potatoes -set aside, keeping warm Roasted bacon wrapped monkfish (serves 2) -2 monkfish filets (approx.

8-10 ounces per piece) -4 pieces good quality bacon -salt and fresh ground black pepper -a few toothpicks, optional -preheat oven to 425 degrees -season monkfish with salt and pepper

-wrap fish with bacon, around the fish like the swirl of a candy cane, tucking the ends back into the bacon; alternatively you can use the tooth picks to keep it in place -you may not need both slices -repeat with the next filet -roast on a baking sheet for approximately 20 minutes, turning over once during the cooking, or until bacon is somewhat crispy but not burned -to assemble the dish, spoon a generous amount of the cauliflower puree on the center of a dinner plate and spread around to form a circle -place the monkfish in the center of the cauliflower puree -using a squeeze bottle or spoon, drizzle the chive oil around the perimeter of the cauliflower puree ENJOY! Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University.

For more information visit www.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 27

NRCS, USFWS Partner to Accelerate Conservation on Agricultural Lands for the Monarch Butterfly Partnership Provides Technical Assistance, Funding and Predictability to Participating Agricultural Producers The monarch butterfly is a new national priority species of Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Populations of monarchs, a pollinator species cherished across North America, have declined significantly during the past two decades. This collaboration aims to help the species recover by working with agricultural producers to make wildlife-friendly improvements on their farms, ranches and forests.

“Producers can make simple and inexpensive tweaks on working lands that provide monumental benefits to monarch butterflies and a variety of other insects and wildlife,” said NRCS Chief Jason Weller. “By adding the monarch to Working Lands for Wildlife, we can accelerate conservation for the species at the heart of its migration corridor.”

NRCS and USFWS recently completed a conference report that explains how conservation practices can help the eastern monarch population, a species known for its remarkable annual, multi-generational migration between central Mexico and the United States and Canada. This report is an initial step toward adding the monarch to WLFW, which uses a science-based, targeted approach to help a variety of at-risk species.

“We need to make every effort to help ensure monarchs don’t become endangered now and in the long term,” said USFWS Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius. “Conservation efforts on agricultural lands across the nation can have a significant positive impact on monarchs as well as many other pollinator insects and birds. Working with farmers and other private landowners, we can ensure a future filled with monarchs.”

The monarch butterfly joins an array of wildlife species across the country already part of WLFW, including the greater sage-grouse and New England cottontail, two recent successes in species conservation. The USFWS determined in 2015 that the two species didn’t warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) because of voluntary conservation efforts underway to restore habitat.

Through WLFW, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers adopt conservation practices that benefit the monarch.

Meanwhile, through the conference report, the USFWS provides producers with regulatory predictability should the monarch become listed under the ESA. Predictability provides landowners with peace of mind – no matter the legal status of a species under ESA – that they can keep their working lands working with NRCS conservation systems in place.

Work through WLFW centers on 10 states in the Midwest and southern Great Plains that are considered the core of the monarch’s migration route and breeding habitat. Much of this work will focus on planting and enhancing stands of milkweed and other high-value nectar plants for monarchs. Assistance is available to producers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.

USFWS has committed significant funding – $20 million over five years – to support monarch conservation efforts. Additionally, USFWS is working with partners, including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Wildlife Federation and the Mexican and Canadian governments to leverage resources and investments to support and implement conservation actions across the continent.

During the past two years, NRCS has made available $6 million through a variety of Farm Bill conservation programs for monarch conservation in the 10 states. Additionally, NRCS is working with partners, including The Xerces Society and General Mills, to increase staffing capacity to help producers design customized conservation strategies for working lands.

The two agencies’ efforts contribute to a multi-agency, international strategy to reverse the monarch’s population decline in North America, estimated to have decreased from one billion butterflies in 1995 down to an estimated 34 million. Through the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, offsite link image released by the White House, the United States has a goal of increasing the eastern population of monarchs back to 225 million by 2020.

Producers interested in NRCS assistance should contact their local USDA service center to learn more. NRCS accepts landowner enrollment applications on a continuous basis. NRCS offers more than three dozen conservation practices that can provide benefits to monarchs as well as a variety of other pollinators.

Community Food Pantry Fund Check-Off Available to NJ Tax Filers Contributions to Help Fight Hunger in New Jersey New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher reminds New Jersey taxpayers about an opportunity to assist those in need in the Garden State through a fund that pays for food purchases at the state’s food banks. Contributions to the Community Food Pantry Fund can be made while filling out the 2016 New Jersey income tax forms this year.

Since the Community Food Pantry Fund check-off was created in 2010, more than $138,000 has been distributed to Community Foodbank of New Jersey, Hillside; Food Bank of South Jersey, Pennsauken; FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Neptune; Southern Regional Food Distribution Center, Vineland; Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, Ewing; and NORWESCAP, Phillipsburg. The money was used to purchase healthy foods to distribute to the hungry through food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

“There is a need for emergency food in New Jersey and this fund directly helps the people who need it most,” said Secretary Fisher. “Using the Community Food Pantry Fund check-off is an easy, simple way to become involved and help fellow New Jerseyans.”

The check-off was first available on the 2010 tax year forms. It allows taxpayers to either contribute a portion of their tax refund or make a donation. Money collected for the fund administered by the Department of Agriculture must be used exclusively for food purchases. Those wishing to contribute should enter the code “09” on Line 64 to designate this check-off item on their NJ-1040 income tax form.

The fund was the result of recommendations from the state’s Hunger Prevention Advisory Committee in an effort to create an on-going funding stream to assist with the acquisition of emergency food to enhance the emergency food provider system.

Governor Chris Christie and the State Legislature allocated $6,818,000 for the current fiscal year for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), which distributes the funds for the purchase of healthy and nutritious foods to feed people affected by hunger.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture distributes United States Department of Agriculture-donated food to the six food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, as well as distributes funds from the State Food Purchase Program.

28 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

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GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 29

Sussex County Farmer Receives Outstanding Young Farmer Award at 2017 State Agricultural Convention Tor Andersen, a Sparta vegetable, hay and corn producer and garden center owner, has been chosen as New Jersey’s 2017 Outstanding Young Farmer by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Andersen was presented with the award at the 2017 New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City. Andersen is also one of 10 finalists for the National Outstanding Young Farmers Award.

“Tor Andersen is a hard-working, creative farmer who always has had a passion for farming since his introduction to agriculture at a young age,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher. “He is setting an example of what it takes to build a successful agricultural career even though his family did not own any farm land. It is farmers with this type of determination and dedication that will help keep New Jersey agriculture alive well into the future.”

The fact that his family did not own land did not stand in the way of Andersen realizing his agricultural dream. Andersen now owns 400 acres, a garden center and produces more than 20,000 tomato plants, 20 different kinds of fruits and vegetables, 100 acres of field corn and 300 acres of hay on his Sussex County farm.

Andersen’s agricultural education started when he worked on his best friend’s dairy farm cleaning stalls and milking cows. In high school, he worked on Ideal Farms, where he learned to operate machinery as well as grow different kinds of plants, vegetables and hay. He went on to graduate with a degree in Agronomy from SUNY Cobleskill. Then, in 2003 he began growing greenhouse tomatoes that he eventually began to sell wholesale to restaurants and farmers markets.

In 2008, he opened a garden center in Sussex and started growing annuals and perennials. He then purchased a farm in Sparta in 2014, which was put into farmland preservation to permanently preserve the property. He also eventually bought a farm market that had been in business for over 50 years.

That helped expand his business to having two farm stands, a garden center and attending weekly farmers markets in several local communities.

Andersen Farms employs more than 30 people annually and also sells local honey, cheese, glass bottled milk, eggs, Christmas trees and other items.

The farm also benefits from Agritourism as it has had thousands visit its 15 acre Sunflower Maze and Scavenger Hunt.

“I started this business 13 years ago with the dream to become a first generation farmer,” Andersen said. “I love everything about farming and knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Andersen is thankful to his parents for helping him as they sold their house and bought a 120-acre farm to get the business started. He also says he is constantly learning and depends on Rutgers University to help manage plant disease as well as do pest management. He added that the farm preservation grant helped the family pay off loans and expand its business.

Andersen says he is also thankful for the support he has received from the local community and other farmers.

“There have been so many knowledgeable farmers with generations of experience that have always been generous and willing to give advice and help whenever needed,” Andersen said. “I also credit our community for their support which has helped tremendously in our success.”

Water and soil conservation have also played a major role in his farm’s success. Soil conservation practices allow him to build up organic matter, which creates environmentally rich soil so plants can thrive. Andersen also receives a detailed soil report each spring which helps him understand what is needed to make the best growing conditions.

The support from his wife Nicole, who also has a passion for farming, is also vital to the family business. She is active in the community, including speaking at local schools about the importance of healthy eating and supporting local farming. Nicole and Tor have four daughters Anya, Greta, Elsa and Elin between the ages of 9 and 4.

Andersen is also active in the community, having been a member of his local church for more than 30 years and he has been a member of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce since 2014.

The OYF program is the oldest farmer recognition program in the United States, with the first group of national winners selected in 1955. The goals of the OYF program are to foster better urban-rural relations through the understanding of farmers’ challenges, as well as the appreciation of their contributions and achievements; to bring about a greater interest in farmers/ranchers; and to help build an urban awareness of the farmers’ importance and impact on America’s economy. The OYF program encourages a greater interest in agriculture through the appreciation of the farmers’ contributions and achievements and recognizes local citizens’ contributions and encourages better urban-rural relations. The National OYF program is sponsored by Deere & Company, administered by the Outstanding Farmers of America Fraternity, and supported by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and the US Junior Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the state’s Outstanding Young Farmer program, visit: www.nj.gov/agriculture/about/sba/cover.html or call Joe Atchison, OYF Program Manager at (609) 984-2223 or email joe.atchison@ag.state.nj.us.

Student Volunteer Intern Program at the National Weather Service (NWS) Mount Holly Forecast Office

Are you a college student from the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley area, in your Junior year of a major in Meteorology or a related field?

Are you interested in learning first-hand about operational forecasting in the National Weather Service?

If so, then the student volunteer intern program at NWS Mount Holly may be right for you.

Each summer we bring in several student volunteers to work part time at our office. We look for a diverse pool of applicants from which to choose, i.e., different schools, different ethnic backgrounds, male/female, etc. Students typically work two days or evenings a week, for a total of about 16 hours. The times are flexible; we try to work out a schedule that is convenient for all the volunteers. Students start in mid to late May and continue through the end of July. We prefer that students work on weekdays, but weekends are also possible.

As a student volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work at an NWS forecast office and see how the forecasts are prepared. You can learn about AWIPS, NOAA Weather Radio, and various other NWS computer systems. We will set up training shifts at specific forecast desks, including public, aviation/marine, hydrology, and severe weather. As opportunities arise, you may be able to visit remote equipment sites, go on storm surveys, or attend meetings with our customers.

Basically, you will perform most of the duties of an entry-level meteorologist in the NWS. Also, we try to find a concise research project, such as a weather-event case study or local climate study, which can be completed during the summer, and that will have lasting benefit for our office.

Some students receive academic credit for their work here, but many do not. That is up to the individual.

We accept applications from prospective student interns during January and February, and make selections in early March. We may conduct a telephone interview as part of the selection process. Again, we look for students who by the coming summer will have completed their Junior year of a major in meteorology, atmospheric science, or a related field. Computer programming skills are also definitely a plus.

If you would like to apply for our student volunteer intern program, please send your resume and transcript (official or unofficial is fine), including courses this spring, to Alan Cope (alan.cope@noaa.gov), or if you have a question not answered above, contact us via the same e-mail address.

30 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

N.J. Landscape Association Seeks Executive Director The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) is looking to hire an Executive Director to work with the Combined Board of Directors to execute a strategic plan for growth and financial stability. The Executive Director will be responsible for developing all aspects of the association, including membership development, event coordination, membership meetings in conjunction with associate members and representing the industry to the public and all government officials.

The successful candidate should have work experience with non-profit associations. This is a part time position. Hours may vary, but will include some evenings and weekends. Salary will commensurate with experience.

To apply for this exciting opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter that describes your qualifications, experience and specific outlook for the position to info@njlca.org.

The NJLCA was formed in 1966 and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. We are a group of professional landscape contractors dedicated to advancing the integrity, proficiency, profitability and personal growth of the landscape professional. Through educational seminars, trade shows, social events, networking opportunities, membership meetings, magazines and professionalism in all that we do, the Association is able to fulfill its mission.

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Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline opens March 1st The Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County, a volunteer organization of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, is busy getting ready opens its Helpline office on March 1, 2017. NJAES Rutgers Master Gardeners are trained by Rutgers University staff and faculty as well as local horticulturalists.

The Helpline provides a service every resident can take advantage of throughout the growing season. Rutgers Master Gardeners can help answer a myriad of home gardening questions, some of which include: soil, lawn care, plant, tree and shrub identification, advice about the right plant for the right place and recommendations on deer resistant plant material.

With suitable samples, Master Gardeners can also diagnose plant diseases, identify insects, weeds, and other pests of the home and garden and give advice about the cultural recommendations for their control following Integrated Pest Management techniques.

Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline volunteers will be available to provide assistance on the phone or on a walk-in basis. The NJAES Rutgers Cooperative and Extension office of Somerset County is located at 310 Milltown Road in Bridgewater. Hours are 9AM-12 Noon Monday through Friday.

Inquiries can be made by phoning 908-526-6293 press option 4 or residents can bring a sample of their problem to the office on Milltown Road. Home Gardeners can also email the Helpline at rcemastergardener@co.somerset.nj.us

The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 167 Published Monthly Contact Information Phone: 908.604.4444 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . .

Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo

March Columnists Tom Castronovo Evan Dickerson Douglas H. Fisher Larry Katz Craig Korb Steve Schuckman

TO RESERVE AD SPACE IN GARDENER NEWS CALL: 908.604.4444

Todd Pretz Nelson Lee Bob LaHoff Peter Melick Richard Perkins

Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Brian Bosenberg Hubert Ling Jan Suszkiw

Jeannie Geremia William A. Kolbe B.C.E. Sharon Durham Dennis O’Brien

Gardener News is published monthly by

Gardener News, Inc. 16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059 The Gardener News invites correspondences on gardening subjects of interest. Gardener News, Inc, and its Publisher reserve the right to accept, refuse, or discontinue any editorial or copy, and shall not be liable to anyone for printing errors, misinformation or omissions in editorial or copy. The information contained in articles herein represents the opinions of the authors and, although believed to be accurate and complete, is not represented or warranted by Gardener News, Inc. to be accurate or complete.

All advertising is subject to the Gardener News advertisement rates, and must be PAID IN FULL at time of submission. Publisher reserves the right at its absolute discretion, and at any time, to cancel any advertising order or reject any advertising copy whether or not the same has already been acknowledged and/or previously published. In the event of errors or omissions of any advertisement(s), the newspapers liability shall not exceed a refund of amounts paid for the advertisement.

NOTE: All editorial, advertising layouts and designs and portions of the same that are produced and published by Gardener News, Inc., are the sole property of Gardener News, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form unless written authorization is obtained from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Gardener News, 16 Mount Bethel Rd - #123, Warren, NJ 07059. (c) 2017 Gardener News, Inc.

Full Moon, March 12, 2017 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH

Lavender is one of the most well-known scents that can help relax you and induce sleep. The plant has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and can help with insomnia and restlessness. The fragrance of jasmine can also help improve your sleep. German researchers found that the scent of jasmine is as effective as Valium and similar drugs for relieving anxiety and promoting sleep. If you’re looking to control toxins in the air, the Snake Plant, or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, is one of the most recommended plants for improving air quality. The optimal place to keep this relatively inexpensive and low-maintenance plant is the bedroom, because it converts CO2 into oxygen at night.

GardenerNews.com

March, 2017 31

32 March, 2017

GardenerNews.com

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Buy all 4 and receive a *$15 or **$35 store gift certificate *5M **15M

Correct Soil pH Correct soil pH and calcium are essential to plant health. TURF TURBO is a high efficiency lime that rapidly raises soil pH and provides calcium.

Our high quality chelated calcium is essential for root development, plant growth and vigor, drought and stress tolerance.

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Family made in America for over 90 years