Time to start thinking about and planning your spring gardens
The Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District’s (PCSWCD) 2020 Tree and Plant Sale has begun. We are pleased to announce PCSWCD is using several new, local and organic suppliers for our tree and plant sale this year. They are all located in Maine and some are very close to home.
We think this is a great partnership that will help the district as well as our local vendors and you, the customer. When you support us, you’ll be supporting them too! Buying locally helps our economy and planting natives, perennials and pollinator plants benefits our gardens. Bringing beneficial insects and pollinators to our gardens help to increase our harvests of fruits, berries, flowers and vegetables.
This year, the PCSWCD Tree and Plant Sale pre-order deadline is Wednesday, April 15, with a pickup from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 9. For those of you who have purchased from us in the past, you will notice we have a later plant sale date. This will ensure you can plant as soon as you receive your order. No waiting for the snow to melt! This is one of PCSWCD’s biggest fundraisers with proceeds from the sale directly supporting our educational programs and outreach.
What’s more, is when you pick up your plant order on May 9 at the Piscataquis Regional Food Center, you will have the chance to speak one-on-one with Donna Coffin of UMaine Extension Piscataquis County and ask questions about soil health for your garden. There will also be ongoing kids’ activities provided by PCSWCD staff. Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) will be providing an interactive soil health simulation demonstration at 10 a.m., followed by a soil mixing demonstration by Jackson Regenerational Farm at 11 a.m. PCSWCD is proudly partnering with our pickup location host, the Piscataquis Regional Food Center. Come learn about the center’s “Garden in the Box” pilot program, services and take a facility tour. All preorders will be ready for pick up at their location at 76 North Street. There won’t be plants for sale on the day of pick-up, so grab your catalog, place your order and come join us!
We are offering herbs, medicinal plants, native perennials, apple trees and shrubs. All will do well in this zone 4 growing area. You can enhance your landscape to bring in wildlife and pollinators or diminish the effect of runoff by planting areas between your home and water bodies. Planting buffers along water sources slows water runoff and allows for the water to absorb into the ground instead of the nearby waters. Gardens will enhance the value of your property. Rain Gardens can also be planted to catch water from your roof tops and hardscapes and correct erosion issues.
We carry locally made bluebird houses to provide a home for the birds that visit your gardens. Our landscape helpers include Plantskydd organic animal repellent, recycled rain barrels, kitchen pails and garden composters as well as biodegradable mesh tree protector sleeves. Plantskydd is effective against deer, rabbits, voles, moose, chipmunks and squirrels. It offers over-winter plant protection for up to six months. Plantskydd is organic — the first animal repellent to be OMRI listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute for organic food production. We also carry PCSWCD hats to keep the sun off your face while you are gardening! Some of these products will be available for purchase on the day of pick-up or can be pre-ordered.
For more information about the variety of plants and products available through this fundraiser that supports our educational programs, please contact the district office at 207-564-2321, extension 3, email us at info@piscataquisswcd.org or visit our website at piscataquisswcd.org. We are located at the USDA Service Center at 42 Engdahl Drive.