November 2024
LTPL Grows Newsletter

A November Day
 
I come, a sad November day,
Gray clad from foot to head;
A few late leaves of yellow birch,
A few of maple red.
And, should you look, you might descry
Some wee ferns, hiding low,
Or late Fall dandelions shy,
Where cold winds cannot blow.
And then, you see, I'm not all gray;
A little golden light
Shines on a sad November day,
A promise for the night.
For though gray-clad, in soft gray mist,
Floating on gray-cloud wing,
I know that I the way prepare
For brightest days of Spring.
And though witch-hazel's golden flowers
Are all the blooms I know,
They promise—so do I—the hours
When sweetest Mayflowers grow.
 
by Mary B. C. Slade 1826-1882
Painting "November"  by Fidelia Bridges  (1834-1923) 
Fall Gardening with LTPL
Just when you thought you could curl up with your blankie and bunny slippers and look at seed catalogs, here we are to remind you that it isn't too late to get your garlic planted for harvest next summer!
Here in northern states, garlic can be planted from late September to mid-November, as long as the ground doesn't freeze. Even as the temperatures drop, the freshly-planted garlic will be settling in for its long winter's nap.
The best garlic for our climate is hardneck garlic, easily recognizable by its center stalk surrounded by 6 or seven large cloves. Softneck garlic is the choice for growing in southern states, and makes up the bulk of what is sold in grocery stores and is often imported from China. It has several small cloves, with a center of tiny cloves that are so small as to not be usable. Hardneck garlic is usually available in farmers markets and some groceries this time of year, or it can be ordered from seed companies (an expensive option).
Simply break apart the cloves and plant each  one 4" deep in prepared soil, pointed side up. Space the cloves 6" apart. Take the opportunity to use the mixture of shredded leaves mixed with grass from your last mowings to put about 3" of mulch on the area. The garlic will come up through it in the early spring and weeds will be kept at a minimum. Garlic doesn't compete well with weeds, so keep the bed as free of weeds as you can.
You have three possible ways to enjoy your garlic. If you plant some cloves thickly in the fall, around 3" apart, you can pull it in March and enjoy "green garlic" just as your stored garlic is used up or gone by. Green garlic is the term used when the bulb is picked before the cloves start to form. It has a mild flavor and is a welcome harvest early in the spring! In June, watch as your garlic plants form "scapes." A scape is the central stalk that will eventually flower and form bulbils if allowed to grow. This comes at the expense of the garlic bulb, which will be 20% to 30% larger if the scapes are removed as soon as they are seen. The scapes are delicious with a mild garlic flavor and can be used any way you use garlic or chives. Pesto made with scapes is one of the most popular uses.
Garlic is ready to be harvested around mid-July when most of the lower leaves have turned brown. Gently loosen the soil around the bulbs with a trowel or fork, taking care not to bruise the bulb. Any bulbs damaged during harvest should be taken to the kitchen immediately and used! The rest can be trimmed leaving around 6" of stalk and hung or laid out in a dry, well ventilated area out of direct sun to cure. When the necks have closed and the skin is papery, the stalk can be trimmed to 1 inch and the roots trimmed to remove most of the soil. Store your garlic in a very cool area like a dry basement, and check the bulbs regularly for signs of decay. Save your biggest and best bulbs to plant in the fall for next year's crop.
 
 
Upcoming LTPL Grows Programs 
DIY Kombucha
Monday, November 18 @ 6:30 pm
 
Learn to brew your own kombucha, a healthy fermented tea full of probiotics! Find out about the art and science of creating this historic, traditional drink. Attendees will leave with a kombucha culture called a "scoby" so they can brew kombucha at home!
Seed Packaging Party
Monday, December 2 @ 6:30 pm
 
Join us as we gather together to package donated seed for the LTPL Grows Seed Library. Enjoy meeting and conversing with other helpers as we fill and label seed packets. Be one of the first to see the new additions to the seed library! Snacks and drinks will be provided, as well as a special surprise gift for all helpers.
 
Herb of the Month
The Herb of the Month is Echinacea
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 November. 
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 November!   
The LTPL Seed Library is open for business all year long with seasonally appropriate seeds added on an ongoing basis. 
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!
 
 
November Garden Calendar
In November
  • Remove dead plants and diseased material from your garden to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.
  • Apply a layer of mulch to add organic matter, retain moisture, and suppress weeds. Shredded leaves are great for this. Work compost into garden beds.
  • If you haven't done so yet, plant garlic and spring-flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils.
  • Trim back dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs, but wait until late winter for general pruning chores. Avoid heavy pruning of spring flowering plants to preserve next year’s blooms.
  • Clean and store gardening tools, making sure to sharpen blades and oil metal parts to prevent rust.
  • Take some time to take pictures and make notes on successes and failures. Begin the plan for next year’s garden layout.
  • Continue to harvest late-season crops like kale or Brussels sprouts.
  • If you have a pond or fountain, winterize it to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.
  • 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
A Life in the Garden: Tales and Tips for Growing Food in Every Season by Barbara Damrosch 
This much anticipated book from the Queen of Organic Gardening in the north is a series of thoughtful, clever, informative essays on a lifetime of growing food in northern climates
 
The Biochar Handbook: A Practical Guide to Making and Using Bioactivated Charcoal by Kelpie Wilson
While it is a pillar of regenerative agriculture, biochar is still a elusive term for many gardeners and farmers. This book provides the history and uses of biochar and how to create your own source.
Trees and Shrubs That Heal: Reconnecting with the Medicinal Forest by Anne Stobart
Medical herbalist Stobart presents a toolbox for recognizing and harvesting herbal healing supplies from trees and shrubs, understanding their constituents, and how to use them in the landscape or permaculture planting.
 
Four Seasons Garden Club News
Coming Events:
November Meeting: There will not be a Garden Club meeting in November.
The Four Seasons Garden Club of South Lyon meets monthly at the Lyon Township Public Library. Watch the calendar for changes in 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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