March Happenings

Laura M reporting:

Our TTJ team is pleased to announce the following resolution was passed on March 7 at Town Meeting:

“We the citizens of Jericho propose the formation of Jericho as a vital Food Hub for the citizens of its Town and environs.  A Food Task Force will be established by the SelectBoard, with the goal of increasing food self-sufficiency via the production, manufacture and distribution of local food.”

A dozen or so local folks have offered to serve on the newly formed Food Task Force and we’ll be reporting on our progress here so...stay tuned!

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On March 27, Laura Oliver of the Jericho Seed Library presented: Starting Seeds with Ease. An ample crowd of about 25 people of all ages showed up at the Community Center for this informative talk and discussion.

Check out the Seed Starting talk Laura Oliver gave last year for some seed starting basics:  
www.transitiontownjericho.net/blog/archives/03-2022
Some additional information she offered at this year’s talk:

Containers
Laura still recommends soil blockers as her first choice in starting seeds. She outlined several advantages, adding that there is a soil blocker at the Jericho Seed Library that can be checked out. She did a demonstration of filling the blocks; the soil needs to be wetter than with other methods (water oozing out when you squeeze it)
She said the second best method is a wind strip tray; made of hard plastic, it comes in different sizes, allows air circulation around seedlings and is indestructible!

Potting Soil
For a high quality potting mix for starting seeds, Laura recommended Vermont Compost Company’s Fort Vee mix.
She said you can make your own starter mix by combining the following: ten parts peat, ten parts compost and seven parts perlite.

Heating Mats
Laura said these mats are one of the best investments for seed starting. These are placed under the trays and simulate warmer temperatures. As soon as the seeds sprout, the seedlings can be placed under lights, thereby freeing the mats for starting additional seeds.

Gardening Supplies
Guy’s Farm and Yard is Laura’s first choice for purchasing garden supplies. There are four stores- the nearest one to Jericho is in Williston.

Seedlings v. Direct Sowing
After conducting a few home trials, Laura determined that direct planting is best for delicate seedlings such as cucumber, squash and pumpkins. She says they tend to be less stressed than transplanted seedlings; good advice from a pro!

Terminology
Stratification is treating seeds to simulate overwintering conditions. Laura described a method of stratifying overwintered herbs by filling (used) milk jugs with soil and the herbs, then placing them in the snow January and February to prepare them for planting in the earth come spring.
Scarification is breaking down (large) seeds to stimulate germination. Laura said examples are nicking the seed or soaking it in water.

Seed and Plant Swap
Laura announced an upcoming Seed and Plant Swap (Saturday May 27 from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Community Center) as a great way to swap your extra seedlings and seeds for others you’re in need of. Mark those calendars!

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Kids Garden Contest

This is the second year TTJ is hosting the Kids Garden Contest. Ten raised garden beds, along with materials and supplies will be awarded and delivered to ten families by Mother’s Day. To earn a garden, children ages 6-13 need to fill out a creative questionnaire which gets them thinking about what they would grow and why. Forms are available at the Jericho Town Library, or can be requested via [email protected] Deadline is April 29.
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