October 2024
LTPL Grows Newsletter

October
 
O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
 
Excerpt from the poem "October" by Robert Frost
Painting "October Morning on the River Leie"  by Emile Claus (1849-1924) 
Fall Gardening with LTPL
The forecast is encouraging for the month of October. Our average frost date is October 14, but some long-range forecasts put it out to nearly the end of the month in our area. That is two extra weeks to get tomatoes canned, peppers dehydrated, and even plant a final round of fast growing greens and roots. You will still need to be vigilant and check the forecast every day for lows below 35 degrees to avoid ruined plants. Make a plan now in case you have to cover things in a hurry. Below are a few ideas for extending your harvest:
  • Lightweight Row Covers: These are breathable fabrics (floating row covers) that trap heat while still allowing light, water, and air to reach the plants. They provide a few degrees of frost protection. Image below.
  • Heavyweight Row Covers: For more severe frost, use thicker covers, but be mindful that these may reduce light transmission, so only use them when necessary.
  • Spread a thick layer of straw, leaves, or compost around the base of plants. Mulch acts as insulation, keeping the soil warm and preventing frost damage.
  • Insulated Mats or blankets can also help protect root systems in smaller beds or containers.
  • Water the plants before frost hits. Wet soil retains heat better than dry soil. The water in the soil releases heat slowly, which can protect roots and lower the risk of frost damage to leaves.
  • Avoid watering in the evening, as this can make plants more susceptible to freezing; water in the morning instead.
  • Use plastic domes or cloches (milk cartons work well) over individual plants. These act like mini-greenhouses, trapping heat from the soil and protecting plants from frost. Remove them in the morning before they heat up in the sun.
  • You can also use plastic sheeting or tarps. Ensure that the plastic doesn’t touch the plants directly, as contact with cold plastic can still cause freezing. Remove them in the morning before they heat up in the sun.
  • A more permanent solution is to use hoop houses or low tunnels covered with plastic or fabric. These structures can maintain a warmer microclimate around the crops. Ensure proper ventilation during the day to avoid overheating and allow humidity to escape.
  • Set up barriers, like fencing or tall shrubs, to block cold winds, which can increase frost damage. Reducing wind exposure can make a significant difference in protecting crops.
  • For small areas, using incandescent bulbs or heat lamps can raise the temperature around the plants enough to prevent frost. Ensure the heat source is safe and doesn't pose a fire hazard.
  • If a severe frost is predicted and protection is not feasible, consider harvesting the crops. If you pot up some crops, like greens and some herbs, they can continue growing indoors after harvesting.
  • Keep in mind that while hardy plants like kale and spinach will survive an early frost uncovered and be perfectly edible, the frost will signal them to stop growing. To keep your hardy crops producing, cover them when frost threatens.
  • From our friends at Siskiyou Seeds comes a great blog post:
    Tips for Getting Your Garden Ready for Fall
 
 
Upcoming LTPL Grows Programs 
Go Local! Help Your Farmers, Your Community, and Your Health!
Wednesday, October 16 @ 7:00 pm
 
Choose farm-fresh produce and meat!
Now more than ever before, we want to know where our food comes from. During this program, we’ll talk about the differences between animals raised on pasture and animals raised in confined animal feeding operations and why it’s worth choosing the former. (A few spoilers: eggs, meats, and dairy products from pastured animals help maintain our food chains, our farmers, and our health, plus pastured animals are much more humanely treated than animals in CAFOs.) We'll also talk about different types of produce and how they're grown, and of course you'll hear all kinds of practical culinary tips for how to make the most out of all of your ingredients. Presented in-person by Lisa Howard
Preserving the Harvest
Monday, October 21* @6:30 pm
 
You've harvested some amazing produce from your garden. Now what? In this fun and informative presentation, Bevin talks about a variety of food preservation techniques: canning, dehydrating, fermenting, freezing, pickling, and smoking, as well as making jams, jellies, and marmalades. He'll also discuss using salt, fats, and sugar to brine, cure, and candy foods. Bevin will share historical perspectives on the techniques, information on how each is accomplished, lists of the equipment needed, tips for success, plus attendees will get to sample select recipes from Bevin's new book, The Heritage Pantry. Books will be available for purchase after the presentation.
Bevin Cohen is an award winning author, herbalist, owner of Small House Farm and host of the popular Seeds & Weeds podcast. He offers workshops and lectures across the country on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs, and locally grown food.
* Rescheduled from an earlier date
 
Herb of the Month
The Herb of the Month is Marjoram
Each month we feature a different herb or spice and provide a take-home kit that contains information about the herb, a sample and/or seed packet, instructions for use, and recipes. Click here to register for your Herb of the Month kit for October. 
The Herb of the Month will be announced in the LTPL Grows newsletter and on the LTPL website. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here.  
 
Seed Library News
It's October!   
The LTPL Seed Library is open for business all year long with seasonally appropriate seeds added on an ongoing basis. In October, look for fast-growing greens that will provide baby greens within 30 days during the cool fall weather and that will continue to grow after a fall frost if protected. They can be direct sown after you harvest earlier crops. These greens include lettuce, mustard, kale, arugula, turnips, and radishes. Be sure to keep them well-watered so they grow rapidly.
The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. The seeds are available at no cost to you. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. First time users of the Seed Library need to register. You may do so with this form or in-person at the seed library. Once you have registered, you log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet.  
Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with informative videos!
 
 
October Garden Calendar
In October 
  • Prepare to cover your garden crops and flowers if frost threatens.
  • Sow seeds outdoors for cool-weather, fast-growing fall vegetable crops, including greens, turnips, and radishes. Visit the LTPL Seed library and check for seeds you might need. 
  • Toward the end of October, plant garlic cloves and shallots for harvest the following year. Plant your flower bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
  • Remove spent crops, remembering to bag up plants that are diseased (think tomato blight) or insect infested (think squash vine borer) and burn or throw them away rather than composting them. Clean up the area, and add compost to rejuvenate the soil for the next crop. Plant a cover crop if you are done gardening in that spot for this year. 
  • Collect leaves and grass clippings from untreated lawns and use them to add organic matter to your beds. Shredding the leaves helps them break down faster.
  • Seed-saving continues into October. Allow your non-hybrid tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, and squash to fully ripen on the plant or vine. Make sure correct seed-saving practices have been followed to keep them pure.
  • Information and online resources for starting and saving seed can be found on the LTPL website. 
    Find additional resources for seed saving here:
New Gardening Books at LTPL
Heirloom Skills: A Complete Guide to Modern Homesteading by Anders Rydell and Alva Herdevall
100 ways to embrace the simple life, with step-by-step instructions for growing vegetables, flowers, and fruits, keeping bees and chickens, fermenting and beer-brewing, making soap and sourdough, to name just a few!
 
A Call to Farms: Reconnecting to Nature, Food, and Community in a Modern World by Jennifer Grayson
The author profiles the "New Agrarians," young farmers who are practicing holistic, regenerative agriculture and sustainable foodways in an effort to heal land degraded by decades of conventional farming and, in turn, heal those who eat the food they grow.
Garden Wonderland: Create Life-Changing Outdoor Spaces for Beauty, Harvest, Meaning, and Joy by Leslie Bennett and Julie Chai
The authors explore nineteen garden designs that bring structure and beauty to both large and small spaces. Learn how to use structures, pathways, raised beds, all while living in harmony with nature.
 
Four Seasons Garden Club News
Coming Events:
October Meeting: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 6:30 pm at the Center for Active Adults. 
Cathy Kaya, Master Gardener, will speak on trimming trees.  
Refreshments by Scott and Magali Nelson. Bring your own beverage

The Four Seasons Garden Club of South Lyon meets at the Center for Active Adults at the South Lyon High School on the 1st Tuesday of each month throughout the school year. Watch the calendar for summer meeting locations. Social time begins at 6:30 pm and the meeting begins at 7:00. Click Here for membership information.
 
 
Podcasts, Newsletters, & Links 
Seeds & Weeds Podcast with Michigan's own Bevin Cohen 
Many of you will recognize Bevin Cohen from his many visits to LTPL as a presenter. Bevin (Ben) is an award winning author, herbalist, owner of Small House Farm and host of the popular Seeds & Weeds podcast. He lives and works with his wife, Heather, and two sons, Elijah and Anakin, on their family homestead in Sanford, Michigan.
Bevin offers workshops and lectures across the country on the benefits of living closer to the land through seeds, herbs, and locally grown food. He is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications including Mother Earth News, Hobby Farms Magazine, and The Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company Catalog. He is the author of four books, including his newest The Heritage Pantry.
 
  
Organic Growing Guides and Charts from Michigan's ownNature & Nurture Seeds - Heirloom & Organic Vegetable Seeds
 
 
DNR Wildtalk Podcast
Nate Levitte talks about all things habitat in the southeast Lower Peninsula region of the state. 
Visit the "Wildtalk" webpage for current and past episodes, as well as show notes and links to past episodes.
 
 
Artwork for 261. Laura Fernandez on Sowing Seeds of Sustainability with Garden DesignWeekly podcasts on all things gardening!
 
 
Tips to Get your Garden Ready for Fall
 
 
 
Free Gardening E-Books from MeL
The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) provides information to help Michiganders take advantage of the opportunities our state has to offer.
Growing a garden is one of the best ways to take advantage of local food. The eBook Public Library Collection offers tips and tricks to plan a food-producing garden this summer. For general knowledge, try Gardening to Eat: Connecting People and Plants. Readers can learn when and how to plant and harvest a variety of foods and enjoy recipes created to utilize their nutritious bounty. Vertical Gardening and Micro Food Gardening: Project Plans and Plants for Growing Fruits and Veggies in Tiny Spaces both encourage gardening in the space you have. These eBooks describe how we can grow food in unusual places rather than focusing on limitations. With over 400 additional gardening eBooks including topics such as composting, organic gardening, and gardening with kids, the eBook Public Library Collection has something for everyone.
 
New USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Click Photo to expand 
 
Michigan Gardener Magazine
 Michigan Gardener Magazine
Michigan Gardener Magazine has decided to cease publication of the print magazine and online newsletter. You can still visit the Michigan Gardener website for occasional new articles and the calendar, and browse through digital back issues of the print magazine and newsletters.
 

 
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