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The Dirt CCMG E-Newsletter Volume 7 January 2015

Over fifty members and guests gathered December 13th at the First Methodist Church in Berryville for the annual Christmas Potluck. The regular business meeting was not held so that Dirty Santa could play the usual tricks on those participating in the gift exchange.

CCMG members were pleased to welcome Bruce Lee, our new Extension Agent, and Marti, his wife, to our gathering. Bruce is a former college instructor and we look forward to learning many new things under his direction. Marti is currently a “stay at home” Mom, but is in reality “Wonder Woman”. (That would be the proper designation for an Emergency Room Nurse, which she is.) They have a son and his family in Siloam Springs and a daughter attending Berryville High School.

A vote was cast at the Christmas party for the master gardener thought to be the best representative of the program, active, and dedicated to the beautification and education of the county. Join me in congratulating Dan Ward in winning the Silver Shovel Award. Dan joins previous winners: Jean Ericksen, Will Schell, Neta Stamps, Lavonna Schell, Anita Engert, Beth Stafford, Mary Knight, Anita Rissler, Richard Knight, Karen Wall, and Mariellen Griffith. Thanks to all of them for their hard work and dedication. Tammy McCance, President

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President Tammy announced thqt the January 10, 2015 meeting will be held at St. Anne’s Church in Berryville. Mr. John Loomis will present “Organic Pest Control”.

JR MG PROGRAM Fall 2014 Session #6 Junior Master Gardener Meeting Report The last 2014 fall session of the JMG met Monday, November 24. Twenty four students were present, along with master gardener volunteers; Sherri Plumlee, Faye Martin, Debbie Wall, Paula DuPont, Mary Knight, Sue Davis, Lee & Wayne Monger, and Jennifer Hudspeth. This session was our fall harvest feast, and the students got to try dishes made with vegetables they had planted earlier in the spring. Vegetables included turnips, beets, radishes, lettuce, kale, spinach, carrots & onions. The students got to sample kale chips, beet cake, spinach dip, carrot soup, raw & cooked turnips, turnip greens, salad & spinach casserole prepared by master gardener volunteers. Thanks to the many volunteers who have helped with this project. Special thanks go to Lee Monger and Sue Davis for their help in curriculum planning and presentation and to Mary Knight to preparing the snack for all of our fall meetings. We are still in need of a JMG chairperson - hopefully someone will step up to chair this worthwhile project. Another possibility - the teachers are considering doing the curriculum planning themselves with the master gardeners assisting. This might be a good compromise. If anyone has any questions or is interested, please email or give me a call. Submitted by Jennifer Hudspeth

A MountainWings Moment Issue Number 14330

What You Is ==================

Be what you is Not what you ain't

Cause when you is what you ain't You ain't what you is

Master Gardener, Horticulture (and Health) Events

JANUARY 10TH CCMG Business Meeting St. Anne’s Church Berryville – Fellowship Hall Mr. John Loomis to present “Organic Pest Control”

16 –17 HIS (Horticulture Industry Show) "Technology Solutions for Growers and

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Marketers" 700 Rogers Avenue Holiday Inn City Center, Fort Smith, AR http://www.hortla.okstate.edu/research-and-outreach/programs/2015HIS

19 Deadline for volunteers to sign up for the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show. For more information on volunteering, contact Steve Lopata at 501-223-8099 22-23 Arkansas Green Industry Association (AGIA) meeting Hot Springs, AR http://www.argia.org/

28 County 76 General Membership Meeting Little Rock State Office email Linda Soffer at lsoffer@gmail.com by January 21 if you will be attending

February 14 Master Gardener meeting

Greetings and Great Big Thanks! We had a wonderful time and a great turn out (for the Christmas Potluck). There were several who were not able to attend due to illness and we pray they will get much better and have a wonderful and healthy Christmas. It was a real pleasure to meet our new county agent, Bruce Lee and his wife. Anita Rissler and I want to thank everyone who brought the delicious dishes that accompanied our turkey and ham. Saundra Kaye our new hospitality chairman has frozen it so we will have it in a very creative breakfast casserole or creative something for our January meeting. Thanks to Saundra, Penny Estes, Jennifer Hudspeth, Paula DuPont, Faye Martin, Pam Degroot, Joan Rutz, Nancy Plagge, Tammy McCance, Karen Johnson, and Richard Knight for helping to

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set up and clean up. If I have left someone out please forgive me as I did not make a list as I should have. If your name is not here that does not mean you are not appreciated. This was the last function that Anita and I serve as hospitality co-chairman. The torch has been passed to Saundra Kaye, Deborah Thompson, Sherri Plumlee and Penny Estes. These gals will do an outstanding job! Again we thank each and every one for coming and bringing the delicious food and playing "Dirty Santa". A Very Happy New Year from Mary Knight and Anita Rissler

And do you really think “Dirty Santa” let Brenda keep this garden theme gift??

In The Garden http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/in-the-garden/default.aspx

The above web site has the garden chores of the month and also covers subjects such as:

Butterfly Garden Herbs Native Plants Reference Desk Reference Desk Archives

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If you are not currently following Janet Carson’s blog, I invite you to go here to enroll to receive either daily or weekly email. http://uofacesmg.wordpress.com/

Happy January Birthday!

3rd

Donna Sartoris

4th

Marie Swenson

9th

Anna Matthews

16th

Jean Ericksen

20th

Eileen Raines

23rd

Shirley Clark

26th

Michael Rissler

The Winter Solstice occurs exactly when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the Winter Solstice lasts only an instant in time, the term is also colloquially used as Midwinter or contrastingly the first day of winter to refer to the day on which it occurs. More evident to those in high latitudes, this occurs on the shortest day, and longest night, and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is the lowest. The seasonal significance of the Winter Solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA) http://www.cute-calendar.com/event/winter-solstice/5730-world.html

This is one of the shortest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the day of no sunlight at the North Pole! What does Winter Solstice have to do with Master Gardeners you ask? Well, it is cold and unpleasant out and we really can’t go out and play. You may not have a problem with SAD, but many of us have, so I am going to tell you a little bit about the condition. This information is found at http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/

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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of major depression that comes and goes based on seasons. Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include:

Irritability Tiredness or low energy Problems getting along with other people Hypersensitivity to rejection Heavy, "leaden" feeling in the arms or legs Oversleeping Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates Weight gain

The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include: Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression. Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

Chin up – those spring catalogs are on their way!

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual

orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and

is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Neta Stamps, Editor