Raised beds for easier gardening

HAWLEY, PA — No matter what your age or physical condition, thanks to raised-bed gardening, no one needs to give up their love of planting food or flowers.

Raised-bed gardening was the subject of the first meeting of the 2023 season of the Country Gardeners, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

The guest speaker was Kathy Long, a Wayne County master gardener. 

She presented slides about the alternative approach to planting. Because of the beds’ added height, people can work sitting or standing up. The technique allows more control of planting and provides better drainage and fewer weeds. It also gives the gardener a longer growing season and unlimited creative layouts. 

The raised planters or pots can be made from wood, metal, plastic or concrete blocks. The location could be anywhere; however, it is recommended that the beds be close to your heaviest gardening supplies, and that there should be a water source nearby. 

As always, your own homemade compost is the best for planting. However, if you buy ready-made compost, Long advised that you mix bags from three different manufacturers, because each bag contains different nutrients that your plants need for their best growth.

Long said you should always do a soil test before planting, so you know which fertilizers are required. You can buy a soil-test kit from Penn State for only $9, in person at your local county extension office or online at the Penn State website. This website will also give you invaluable information on gardening and techniques such as lasagna gardening and hugelkultur.

Take into account companion planting for vegetables and herbs, and put taller plants in the center of your raised bed, Long said. It’s best to plant in an east-to-west direction, to take full advantage of the sunlight.

The Country Gardeners group meets the first Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Brookfield Environmental Learning Center by the dam at 126 Lamberton Ln. The next meeting will take place on May 4, and the guest speaker will be Master Gardener Diane Diffenderfer, who will talk about edible landscaping. 

E-waste and scrap-metal recycling fundraiser

MILFORD, PA — The Tri-State Pregnancy Center will hold an e-waste and scrap-metal recycling fundraiser on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the front parking lot of the Sunshine Station. 

The Sunshine Station is located across from Tractor Supply at 476 Rtes. 6 and 209.

The recycling fundraiser is open to all residents in the tri-state area. 

Items accepted for recycling include computers/servers, network equipment, modems, routers, laptops, televisions, DVD/VCR players, cables, wires, battery back-ups, power cords, circuit boards, toasters/toaster ovens, microwaves, blenders, metal beach chairs, general metals, telephones/smartphones, air conditioning units, holiday lights, vacuums, pots and pans and more. 

The cost is $20 per car and $40 per truckload. An additional $10 will be charged for large appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, hot water heaters and barbecue grills.

Through fundraisers and the generosity of their donors, the pregnancy center offers a variety of free services to those who are or think they are pregnant, as well as single moms, families, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and foster parents. The services provided include pregnancy testing and parental coaching. 

Additionally, the center provides material aids such as diapers, children’s clothing, formula, baby food, cribs, high chairs, playpens and toys. 

For more information on services or how to donate, visit www.tristatepregnancycenter.org, or find it on Facebook at Tri State Pregnancy Center.

UDC project review and operations committees to meet

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will hold the next monthly meetings of its project review committee and operations committee on Tuesday, April 25 at the UDC office, 211 Bridge St. Project Review begins at 6:30 p.m. and Operations begins at approximately 7:30 p.m.

The agendas will include new and old business, updates on ongoing projects, reports of recent meetings and notices of upcoming events. 

All UDC meetings are open to the public. 

For meeting updates, check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages.

Catskill Edible Garden project grants awarded

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan 180 has announced the recipients of the Catskill Edible Garden project grants for 2023.

The grants, ranging from $500 to $2,500, are awarded for the creation and care of food gardens at schools and daycare facilities. 

The recipients and projects are:

Emma C. Chase Elementary School: Rebuild the existing garden beds with more substantial lumber; add a trellis, perennials and containers.

Homestead Collaborative College High School: Install two raised beds, four trees and four shrubs to the existing garden at the Hurleyville campus of the Homestead Collaborative College High School.

Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School: Rebuild the existing garden while addressing water runoff with a French drain. Will also add a picnic table and blueberry bushes.

Liberty Elementary School: The replacement of rotten beds with outdoor seating and metal garden beds, as well as the addition of hoops for season extension and pest control.

Liberty High School: The purchase of a tower garden, as well as helping fund the supplies and maintenance of the existing edible garden.

Livingston Manor Central School: Plant blueberry bushes and rhubarb plants, and add soil amendments to an existing garden.

Sullivan County BOCES: The continued maintenance and enhancement of the edible garden.

Sullivan West Elementary School: The installation of a native, edible, pollinator garden alongside an existing edible garden.

The Catskill Edible Garden Project works with schools and daycares to design edible gardens as living, outdoor educational and gathering spaces. These projects offer access to healthy food and exposure to agriculture as an important aspect of our community and culture. They also provide hands-on experience and time outside for engaging and connecting with the environment. 

The Edible Garden Project is a partnership between Sullivan 180, Catskill Mountainkeeper and Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County. 

For more information, call Alan Carroll at 845/295-2719 or email Alan@Sullivan180.org.

Food distribution at Wallenpaupack South Elementary School

NEWFOUNDLAND, PA — The Mount Charitable Foundation and Pocono Sand & Stone will hold a food distribution event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 at the Wallenpaupack South Elementary School.

The foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to reduce food insecurity, fund cancer research, support veterans’ causes, and promote youth scholarship programs. 

It has worked with Pocono Sand & Stone to deliver over 22,000 pounds of food for the local Newfoundland Schools and Homes in Education (SHINE) program, supporting those less fortunate in the community, according to a news release from SHINE. 

“With so many families in our community, the food will consist of things your kids will eat,” a spokesperson said. “Come for cereal, peanut butter and jelly and mac and cheese, among many other options.”

Bags of food will be set up to grab and go. 

All are welcome to come. Volunteers are encouraged to get in touch. 

The school is located at 989 Main St.

For any questions, or to participate, call Amy at 856/768-8493 ext. 505.