October Chores for Your Georgia Garden

by

The checklist for October gardening chores according to UGA’s Vegetable Garden Calendar:

October Garden Chores

  1. Choose the mild weather during this period to plant or transplant the following: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, spinach and turnips. Plant your second planting of fall crops such as collards, turnips, cabbage, mustard and kale.  For variety recommendations see the Vegetable Planting Chart.
There is still time to plant lettuce and other cool-season greens.
There is still time to plant lettuce and other cool-season greens.

2.  Refurbish mulch to control weeds, and start adding leaves and other materials for the compost pile. Store your manure under cover to prevent leaching of nutrients.

3. Water deeply and thoroughly to prevent drought stress. Pay special attention to new transplants.

Seedlings will need water during October, which is usually one of our driest months.
Seedlings will probably need supplemental water during October, which is usually one of our driest months.

4. Harvest mature green peppers and tomatoes before frost gets them — it may not come until November, but be ready.

5. Harvest herbs and dry them in a cool, dry place.

Happy Fall Gardening!

Boots and Gloves

by
Boots and Gloves

Danger never takes a vacation:

Why does it matter what kind of gloves you wear?

  • For one thing, you’re holding a tool that’s running at 11,000 RPM which means that there is potential for a ton of vibration that’s transferred to your hands and forearms. This may lead to numbness of your hands and fatigue on your arms and shoulders.
  • Plus, you’re working with an extremely sharp chain traveling at 55 MPH.

What are some characteristics of a good pair of gloves?

  • Gel padding in the palms to drastically reduce vibration.
  • Lined with cut-resistant DuPont Kevlar fiber to prevent minor cuts. They should be rated at Level 3 for cut resistance. (ANSI/ISEA 105-2005 Standard.
  • Snug fit. Get the right size to fit your hands.
  • Non-slip with breathable Spandex with goatskin or other materials that provide good control for your fingers and palms. Make sure the top of the glove is well made.
  • Knit wrist closure with Velcro keeps debris out and doesn’t get caught in things like chippers, saw tips, or sticks.
  • Machine washable if possible.
  • Why worry about boots?
  • You are on your feet for more than eight hours a day. Your ability to work efficiently is directly proportional to your foot comfort.
  • Protecting your feet in rough conditions should be a high priority.

What are characteristics of a good boot?

  • Correctly fitted to the size of your foot.
  • Lined with DuPont Kevlar for chain cut resistance (24m/sec chainsaw speed)
  • High abrasion resistance.
  • Steel shank for support.
  • Moisture repellent upper.
  • Pillow cushion inserts.
  • Steel, titanium or plastic toed boots. Titanium and plastic toed boots reduce the overall weight of the boot.
  • Meets OSHA regulation 1910.260, ANSI Standard Z41PT83, ASTM F2413-2011 CAN/CSA Z195-2009

Why you should wear a hard hat cutting down a tree

Why you should wear a hard hat cutting down a tree

We are done with PPE!

Chainsaw Chaps or Pants

by
Chainsaw Chaps or Pants

Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.

OSHA requires that chainsaw operators use chainsaw chaps or pants. This is a good thing!

Do you have reflexes faster than your saw’s chain? Maybe if you are superman. If not, and you aren’t wearing chainsaw pants or chaps when you operate your saw…well, there’s a sign for that.

The CDC reports, “Each year, approximately 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries from using chain saws.” Saw cuts are ugly cuts.

Saw pants/chaps are made with several layers of cut retardant material, often Kevlar, that prevents a moving chain from cutting through it. Upon contact the chain and sprocket become filled with fibers which jam the chain against the bar, slowing or stopping the chain’s movement. This gives the operator extra reaction time. At that second, the investment you made will be so worth it. No blood, no ER visit, no bills, still wearing two boots.

Fasten all the buckles on chaps and keep them snug. They should cover the full length of the thigh to two inches below the top of the boot. Even better, to the insole.

If you use a saw daily, it is wise to invest in safety pants. They look good, fit well, and you will be sure to have them on if you need them. They cost a bit more, but the added comfort makes them worth it.

When your cool chaps or pants arrive, take time to thoroughly read and understand the manufacturer’s care and use instructions. Chaps and pants must be washed. They aren’t effective dirty. Some are machine washable in cold water, but they don’t like the dryer or chlorine bleach. Read the care guidelines and follow them.

If you cut your saw chaps/pants, you must replace them. One cut, you chuck!

Always keep your chaps/pants on when using your saw. They are worthless in the truck.

Guess what else? Chaps are sexy…right up there with hard hats, safety glasses, and ear plugs.

Chaps work! You want to watch this video….

Behold Chainsaw Proof Pants in Action

Behold Chainsaw Proof Pants in Action

Want to see what happens when your saw cuts your chaps? DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!!! AT WORK!!! Anywhere…

Peanut Brittle with Pastry Chef Gracie Atsma

by
Peanut Brittle with Pastry Chef Gracie Atsma

This week we are excited to have award winning pastry chef Gracie Atsma joining us to discuss one of my favorite topics – peanuts!  It is peanut harvesting time all across Georgia.

Peanut Brittle with Pastry Chef Gracie Atsma
It is peanut harvesting time in Georgia.

Many school and community gardeners are also pulling up peanuts.  What to do with the harvest?  Chef Atsma shares a possibility with us!

Gracie’s Peanut Brittle

  • Sugar: 4 1/2 cups
  • Corn syrup: 2 1/4 (ish) cups
  • Water: 1 1/2 cups
  • Raw peanuts: 4 1/2 cups
  • Butter: 3 tablespoons
  • Vanilla Extract:  2 tsp
  • Salt:  1 tsp
  • Baking soda:  2 tsp
  • Dark Chocolate: a bit (optional)

Start with mixing together and dissolving the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a large saucepan over heat. Bring to a boil and keep a candy thermometer handy to make sure the mixture reaches 250ºF (121ºC).  Be careful here; don’t get burned.
Once that reaches temp, add the butter and Peanuts, and continue boiling until it reaches 312ºF (155ºC). Be sure to be stirring constantly otherwise the bottom will burn!

Peanut Brittle with Pastry Chef Gracie Atsma
Once it reaches 312ºF, remove from heat and keep stirring as you carefully add the Vanilla, salt, and baking soda. It will foam up a bit, so add slowly.
Have a nonstick pan ready and pour the hot mixture over it as soon as the last three ingredients are combined. Use a greased metal spatula to spread it out evenly, quickly though because it’ll get hard fast!
There you go! Once it hardens you can break it up into edible brittle pieces. Personally, while its cooling, I like to melt a bit of dark chocolate and pour it over top and put the whole thing in the fridge to cool. When it comes out you have a salty sweet treat just in time for fall!

Chef Gracie Atsma
Chef Gracie Atsma at work

You can find Pastry Chef Atsma at Ike and Jane in Athens, Georgia.    Gracie started as a home cook and has always appreciated locally grown foods.  As a teenager she had a garden of her own.    She says “there is no down side for using locally grown, fresh food.”

Thanks Gracie!  

Eye and Face Protection

by
Eye and Face Protection

Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.

What happened when the tree feller didn’t wear his safety goggles?

He turned a blind eye to saw safety.

As the chainsaw blade bites into the tree, bark, wood chips, and tiny bits of the metal blade explode into the air. Your face and eyes are nice, soft targets for all this flying debris. While a faceguard with a mesh screen protects your face, it isn’t enough to protect your eyes from injury. Neither are eyeglasses or sunglasses. Flying objects can shatter the lenses of regular eyewear, increasing the chances of eye injury.

Safety glasses or goggles with side protection or wrap-around lenses deflect threats that come at the eyes from both the front and the side. There are safety glasses and goggles that fit over prescription eyewear. Alternatively, you can have safety eye wear made to your vision prescription, even if you wear bifocals.

Whether you wear prescription or off-the-shelf safety glasses, to make sure you can see clearly, select models that:

Always inspect your faceguard and safety glasses before each use. Replace PPE that has weak or frayed straps, or cracks, chips, or damage to protective shields or lenses.

Your eyes face many dangers…

Threats to eyes and face from chainsaw use

Potential injuries to eyes and face from chainsaw use
Chainsaw kickback Cuts, lacerations, loss of vision
Sawdust Irritation, corneal scratches
Flying wood chips Scratches, splinters, corneal abrasions, loss of vision
Flying metal particles from saw blade Splinters, infection, granulomas, loss of vision
Twigs and branches Scratches, punctures, corneal abrasions, loss of vision

Can’t find the perfect eyewear? Keep looking, there is a style and fit for everyone.

Eye Safety - Safety Eyewear - Eye Injury Prevention

Every month, 23,000 people suffer from eye injuries. Don’t let anyone on your team be one of them.

Know Your Pest!

by

What is the number one way to combat an insect problem in the garden?   Know your pest.  The answer is that simple.  Correct identification of the pest is essential in any type of garden management.

Know Your Pest
Aphids on lettuce

Step #1 Correct identification

Sadly, I have often seen gardeners find signs of a pest and immediately reach for an overall insecticide without properly identifying the problematic insect.   This can be detrimental to your garden.  Insecticides can kill insects that are beneficial to your garden, like pollinators and insect predators.

Know Your Pest
This praying mantis is beneficial to your garden.

Step #2 Learn about the lifecycle and biology of the pest

Once the pest is correctly identified, a major part of growing organically or using integrated pest management (IPM) is learning about the insect to develop a plan of control.  Learn about the life cycle and biology of your pest.  Knowing all you can about a pest so you can manage that pest is just common sense.

For example, Mexican bean beetles lay their eggs in garden debris.  Knowing that, you can help lessen your bean beetle problems by cleaning up your garden at the end of the summer.

Know Your Pest
Mexican bean beetle larva

Planting early, using netting, and choosing resistant varieties are all effective strategies that work in pest management IF the pest is known.  Too much science for you?  Your local UGA Extension agent is the resource to help you.  Use his/her entomological skills to make your garden better!

And, remember that when using any insecticide the label instructions are the law!

Happy, pest-free gardening!

 

Excuse me, did you say “Hearing Protection?”

by

Danger never takes a vacation:

You need hearing protection! Noise is measured in units called decibels (dB). A conversation is about 60 dB, a vacuum cleaner is about 70 db, a lawn mower is about 90 db, and a chainsaw runs at about 110 dB. OSHA regulations kick in at 85 db.

Hearing protection must be worn consistently to be effective, so pick a style that works for you and use it.

Hearing protection has a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The NRR is the decibel reduction provided by hearing protection. A saw operator needs an NRR of at least 26 dB to reduce the noise below 85 dB.

Don’t over protect. Select hearing protectors that provide adequate but not excessive protection for overall performance and effectiveness. You must be able to hear talking, loudspeaker transmissions, warning signals, and important machine sounds while reducing the risk of permanent hearing damage.

OSHA Standard Number: 1910.95 states that employers must develop, implement, and maintain an audiometric testing program. A baseline audiogram for new employees must be established within six months of employment, with an audiogram every year after that.

Check how old your ears are below.

How Old Are Your Ears? (Hearing Test)

How Old Are Your Ears? (Hearing Test)

Some hearing loss is a normal part of aging, but regular exposure of more than one minute to chainsaw noise can also cause hearing loss. So take this test and see how you are doing…

Water Conservation and Drought Awareness: Information about the Georgia EPD Drought Level 1 Response

by

On September 9, 2016, a drought level 1 response was issued by GEPD for 53 counties in northwest and central Georgia. Georgia’s drought management plan, as outlined by the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010, establishes a three-tiered approach to water resource conservation and monitoring.  The first tier of the system is called “Drought Level 1” and initiates a conservation and public awareness campaign by local water utilities in affected counties. Look for forthcoming information regarding the drought level 1 response from local water authorities in these counties to help citizens better understand drought, its impact on water supplies and the need for indoor and outdoor water conservation.  drought_level_1_9-15-2016

 

Outdoor watering: Is it okay to plant trees and irrigate turfgrass?  Yes, normal outdoor watering is allowed between the hours of 4pm and 10am and new landscapes can be watered any day, any time for 30 days in accordance with the Georgia Water Stewardship Act. However, proper plant care and responsible watering practices should always be followed.

Contact your local University of Georgia Extension Agent for scientific publications, bulletins, and fact sheets regarding plant care and irrigation practices. Key practices include mulching, proper plant selection, raising mower heights, and proper irrigation.  In addition, the Georgia Urban Ag Council and the Georgia Green Industry Association launched a website called Georgiawatersmart.com outlining best management practices for indoor and outdoor water conservation.

According to the 2012 Annual Report, the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District estimates that the 15 County Metro Atlanta area reduced per capita water consumption by as much as 20% between 2000 to 2010 through local water stewardship and conservation efforts. Spread the word about water conservation and drought awareness and stay informed on the latest practices for managing drought stressed landscapes.  For more information about the level 1, 2, and 3 drought responses, visit the Water Conservation page of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division website.

Related Articles:

Tips for Managing Drought Stressed Turfgrass

Drought Level 1 Declared in Georgia

 

 

Level 1 Drought Declared in Georgia

by
Level 1 Drought Declared in Georgia

Level 1 Drought Declared on September 9th

On September 9th the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declared a Level 1 drought for 53 Georgia counties.  This includes the Northwest part of Georgia which is experiencing severe and extreme drought conditions.

A Level 1 Drought Response declaration means you will be hearing more from your local water authority about water conservation.

What does this mean to community and school gardens?

At this point, not much.  As always, we need to use best management practices in watering our gardens.  According to the Georgia Water Stewardship Act of 2010 irrigation of personal food gardens is allowed at anytime.  It allows daily outdoor watering for “purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. by anyone whose water is supplied by a water system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division.”

You may want to make sure your irrigation system, hoses, and faucets are not leaking.  Does your garden have a rain barrel?  Find additional watering tips below:

Happy gardening!

Fire Up with the Saw Safety Team

by

Saw Safety, a weekly newsletter of safety tips is brought to you by the UGA Saw Safety Team. This newsletter is for professionals in tree care and landscape, men and women who put a saw in wood. One tip per week, short and sweet, easy to share, perfect for a tailgate meeting.

Check out our past issues.

Get on the List

Sign up today. Get on the mailing list at your county office, the next training, or from your computer.

[yikes-mailchimp form=”3″]

+ More