All the Dirt on Gardening

So far, we just have freezing rain but it should get worse before it gets better. Not only is the weather supposed to be such that it would be foolish to be out on the roads, the church that so generously donated the space for the event is a shelter when the electricity is down. New details (different date, same speakers, time and place) The Muskogee Wellness Committee rescheduled it's Gardening Basics Seminar to Saturday February 27 9 to 12:30 St. Paul's Methodist Church And, if you are stuck inside you might want to sing the suggested new state song SNOW klahoma Where the cold front's sweepin' down the plain An d the piles of sleet, beneath your feet Follow right behind the freezing rain. SNOW klahoma Ev ry night my honey lamb and I Travel home from work and hope some jerk Doesn't wreck our car passing by! We know we belong to the land But it could use some more salt and sand That's why we're saying WHOA! We’re sliding the other way YIKES! We...

IF WEATHER FORCES US TO CANCEL A MESSAGE WILL BE ON 918-686-7200. As part of the Muskogee City Wellness Initiative's Gardening Basics seminar on Saturday, horticulturist Sue Gray will be talking about how to grow fruit in your backyard. Gray was the host of Oklahoma Gardening on public television for over 200 episodes, is responsible for the Horticulture Industries Show, and is the point person for commercial fruit production in Oklahoma. Gray was the 2009 recipient of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service's Distinguished Educator award. As part of her quest to help everyone grow some of their own food, Gray started a class in Tulsa called Green Acres. Through the program, Gray teaches retirees how to turn their dream of owning 10 acres into a set of reasonable goals. (Call 918-746-3707 or see www.oces.tulsacounty.org/) If your land is ready to grow, you can add elderberries, blackberries, strawberries, peaches, pears, grapes, quince, apples or cherries. In addition to sel...

January is a month for promising to eat better, get healthier and exercise. There is one activity to help with all those goals, and that is growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and maybe even some backyard fruit. Gardening not only helps build physical strength, it increases flexibility and relieves stress. Gardening also provides a connection to people that is important for personal happiness. It’s an activity for the whole family and helps builds neighborhood relationships while learning new skills and practicing patience. Saturday January 30 from 9 to 12:30 , Muskogee City Wellness Initiative is sponsoring a free event in the spirit of promoting healthier eating by building a community of gardeners growing food for themselves and their neighbors. Here is a lineup of the topics that will be presented in 20-minute segments – Garden Site Selection and Planning - Sue Gray, OSU Extension Tulsa Keep your garden at its best, with the right amount of sun and closeness to a water source. A su...