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Streets educates garden club

Submitted photo Tucker County extension agent Jesica Streets offers to the Emma Scott Garden Club the ‘Scoop on Dirt’ at the club’s monthly meeting. She explains how to use a soil probe which can be obtained from local extension offices.

ELKINS — The importance of having the correct soil to nourish and support plant growth is the fundamental foundation for a good gardener.

Tucker County extension agent Jesica Streets offered to members of the Emma Scott Garden Club the “Scoop on Dirt” at the club’s October meeting.

Streets, a native of Berkeley County, attended Potomac State College and completed her bachelor’s degree in agriculture and extension education at West Virginia University (WVU).  She has been with the Tucker County Extension Service for three years, beginning her career as a 4-H program assistant and currently serving as Tucker County extension agent.

“I am here to help make soil sampling easier for you and let you know what services are available to help make your soil better,” Streets said to the club.

Streets introduced to the group a soil probe, used to take soil samples in 15-20 different locations within the gardening area. She noted do not mix samples from gardening areas with lawn areas, due to differences in the types of fertilizers used in both. Soil probes are available at most extension offices. These long, metal cylinders are used to take core samples — about six inches of the top soil. Samples from multiple areas are needed to get a median reading of the entire plot.

Streets instructed the group regarding maintenance of collected samples from multiple sites within one plot and how to prepare the samples appropriately to be sent to the WVU Soil Testing Laboratory for a free analysis.

Local extension offices have special envelopes with attached bags available. All that is needed is to fill out the appropriate form, mix the 15-20 samples from the garden area, and ship half a cup of the soil.

“Make sure the soil is dry,” Streets added. “Or you will pay extra shipping.”

Soil sampling results come back via email with recommendations as what to apply to make the soil better.

Sample analysis sheets were shared among the members to familiarize themselves with how to interpret results and apply the information to enhance the richness and productivity of their soil before planting.

Special thanks and recognitions went to:

• Patricia Mayes and CoCo McDaniel created the scarecrow that represents the Emma Scott Garden Club in the Scarecrow Fest in downtown Elkins.

The scarecrow was appropriately named Emma and is on display near the Darden House on Davis Avenue.

• Jane Hoxmeier designed the Forest Festival window, located at 216 Davis Avenue, to represent the club during the festivities.

• Barb Campbell, Joann Gabel, Donna Isner, Bobbi Trimboli and Patricia Mayes worked in partnership with the Mountain State Forest Festival to chose three residences and one business in the Elkins area to be recognized as the Fall Festival Yards for the month of October.

• Local VFW that assisted the club with a monetary donation to maintain the grounds in the area of the Blue Star Memorial Marker, dedicated and placed at Little Arlington Cemetery during the month of June.

In other business:

• The club made the decision to make a monetary donation to assist the Gold Star Mothers for their commemorative tree planting at Canaan Valley State Park in the Spring of 2017.

• An invitation was presented to the group to attend the Monongahela-Cheat District dedication of a Blue Star Memorial Marker to be placed at the Grafton National Cemetery on Friday, November 4.

• At the Fall District meeting at Rock Cave on September 17, the Emma Scott Garden Club qualified to receive awards for their club yearbook, plus the Evergreen Youth Award for the Horticulture and Design Club they sponsor at Elkins Mountain School. The 2017 District Meeting will be hosted by the Emma Scott Garden Club, with the date announced at another time.

• The November meeting of the Emma Scott Garden Club will be held at the Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 14.

The program will be “Celebration of Nature and Gardening with Youth,” with presentations by the Highland Adventist School regarding the Frightened Frog project, plus overviews of the Mountain School Horticulture and Design Club and Youth Build civic gardening programs.

Submitted photo Tucker County extension agent Jesica Streets offers to the Emma Scott Garden Club the 'Scoop on Dirt' at the club's monthly meeting. She explains how to use a soil probe which can be obtained from local extension offices.

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