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Garden Matters by Cheryl Stevens

What if all you needed to grow and thrive were air, sunlight, and the natural elements abundant in water and soil? No more meal planning, grocery shopping, Blue Apron, or rides on the ferry laden with bags of food. You are not living off the land, you are living with the land. You are an amazing organism. You make your own food by converting sunlight, minerals, and water to carbohydrates. You grow strong, flower, bear fruit, and multiply. You are a plant. It’s a lovely early June morning, so grab the watering can and take yourself to the garden. Pick a sunny spot, and bury your legs in the soil. Stretch out your toes, moisten the soil, take a deep breath, and soak in the sun. Life is good and oh, so simple. But there are a couple of things we should check to insure our plan comes to fruition. First, are you suited to the Maine climate? Did I hear you were born in Virginia? Holy Mackerel! What are you doing here? Check your label. Does it list hardiness of −20°F or less, or Zone 5 or less? If so, it’s OK to be from Virginia (you will have to accept that you will never be listed in the Maine Native Plant Directory) as long as your ancestors were from hardy stock. Otherwise, you won’t just suffer through the winter, you probably won’t survive it. Second, examine the soil surrounding your toes, feet, and legs. What do you know about it? Does it have the essential elements you need to convert sunlight and water to food? Does it contain arsenic (used in orchards during the 19th and 20th centuries) or lead (leached from paint or petroleum products)? Is it too acidic for your sensitive digestive system? If you want to grow strong and thrive or if others are going to eat what you produce, you need to test the soil in which you are planted.

Go to the Maine Soiling Testing website ( http://anlab. umesci.maine.edu/ ) or Google it. We are fortunate to have an excellent, affordable lab just for this purpose. You send them a sample of your soil, and for only $15 they will send you a report showing the results, including pH and essential nutrient levels. They will also tell you what you need to add to optimize your soil. It’s a bargain at twice the price. I wouldn’t consider planting myself without one. I have done soil tests for gardens on and off the island, and each one had different deficiencies (and excesses) that were easily remedied by following the lab’s instructions. Ok, one last quick check. How’s the sun? You were in nice, bright sunshine when you planted yourself this morning, but it’s now noon and it looks as though you are in complete shade. Check your label. Does it say “full sun”? Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t put down roots because it’s time to move. Full sun means six or more hours of full sun each day. Take my word for it, it really does. I’m sure you have friends or know someone who is “part sun,” “part shade,” or “shade” who would be perfectly happy and productive in this spot. But you need to move. Next time, observe your garden on a sunny day, and take a picture every hour if there are trees nearby. Find your full-sun areas, and make the most of them. So, take some more deep breaths. Now that you have water, the right elements in your soil, and the perfect amount of sunshine, you are ready to make and consume some food, release some moisture and oxygen, grow tall, and blossom.

Happy Gardening!

Barefoot Landscaping

Artistic Design, Planting & Maintenance of Your Yard & Gardens

Yoga Monday & Friday 7-8 a.m. at the Hall

BJ Abrahamson 207-846-4909

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June 2016 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR