Soils and Methodology Workshop

The Learning Center hosted a Soils and Methodology Workshop on August 3rd. Participants learned how to use an infiltrometer and reviewed the Organic Weed Management techniques.

Soil and Methodology Workshop on August 3rd

We'll be hosting a Soils and Methodology workshop on August 3rd from 5:30-8:30 at the Old Fort Campus in Hesperus. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring a jar of your soil with you and we'll show you some simple tests you can do. We'll also tour the Organic Weed Management treatments and review evaluation methods.

Weeds Workshop Highlights

The Weeds workshop was attended by 26 people. After a brief introduction to weed identification and a summary of the organic weed management project, we toured the demonstration plots and learned more about mechanical methods of weed control.

Rain makes everything look great

It started raining after the 4th of July and the garden looks amazing!!

Harvesting and the Farm Stand

Harvesting has begun in the garden. Students are marketing produce on the Fort Lewis Campus every Thursday from 2-4 pm

SouthWest Conservation Corp Youth Crew

The Old Fort is hosting two SW Conservation Corp Youth Crews this summer. They are between 11 and 15 years of age and help us with projects M-F between 9 am and 3 pm every day. They'll receive a $500 Americorp award when they finish their four weeks. They help with everything from weeding to harvesting and processing.

Weeds Workshop July 14, 2010

We'll be hosting a Weeds workshop on July 14th from 5:30-8:30 at the Old Fort Campus in Hesperus. This will be in conjunction with the BackYard Gardeners program. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Red Plastic Observations

This year we added two colored plastics (Red and White on Black). We noticed that the seedlings in the red plastic emerged 2-3 days earlier than other treatments. Our second observation is the large amount of plants growing under the red plastic and pushing it upward.

Control isn't working!!

June 14th and June 30th photo showing Control plot differences

No moisture since April and it is hot

We were over 90 degrees again today. For our altitude, that is very warm. I'm glad that we installed the drip irrigation because it is much more efficient in this dry environment.

Bean, the garden mascot

Bean is our garden mascot. She waits in the garden for students or visitors to come and pet her

Treatments Applied for June

Treatments for Corn Gluten Meal, Horticultural Vinegar, Flaming, Hand Weeding and Glaser Wheel Hoe were applied.

Soils Workshop a Great Success

Over 40 people attended the workshop on June 9th. Participants brought their own soil samples and made dirt shakes with Beth LaShell. They learned about soil texture and how to ribbon their soil in addition to learning how to use the infiltrometer and pentrometer in the garden with Darrin Parmenter. Dr. Phil Shuler talked about the use of mycorrhiza and gave them a sample for their own garden.

Demonstration Site in Shiprock, NM

On June 7th, we set up demonstration plots in Shiprock, NM at one of the Model Farmer's gardens.She raises chilis, squash and tomatoes and uses flood irrigation so it made installation more difficult. We tried a couple of different techniques to make watering easier. To help with the heat, we used the white on black plastic and the red plastic. We also installed EcoCover and the Embossed biodegradeable black plastic. By the time we were finished, it was over 95 degrees!!

Demonstration Site in Norwood, CO

We set up a demonstration site in Norwood, CO at the Norwood Community Garden plot on June 3, 2010. After tilling up the plot, they encountered a huge canadian thistle problem. We laid down four different types of barries for their demonstration (EcoCover, EcoOne, Black Plastic and Red Plastic) in one section of their garden.

Grant Transferred to Fort Lewis College

In October of 2009 Colorado State University announced it would be closing the San Juan Basin Research Center as part of the ongoing budget cuts. The Agricultural Experiment Station has been at the site since 1956 when Fort Lewis College moved to town. The Research Center will close on June 30, 2010 at which time Fort Lewis College will continue operations needed for its academic program. The grant will continue at the site and will be administered by FLC beginning on July 1, 2010.

Soils Workshop on June 9th

We'll be hosting a Soils workshop on June 9th from 5:30-8:30 at the Old Fort Campus in Hesperus. This will be in conjunction with the BackYard Gardeners program. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring a jar of your soil with you and we'll show you some simple tests you can do.

Seeds and Transplants

Today, the Field Techniques in Agriculture class planted all of the seeds (beans, beets, corn) and the transplants (broccoli and cabbages).

Treatments Applied

FLC Students set up 15 diferent treatments in market garden. We used a plastic roller for the first time and were able to install all of the plastics as well as the planters paper and ecocover using the device. Each treatment row is 80' long with 3' centers.

Drip Irrigation Installed

FLC students installed drip irrigation in market garden

Fort Lewis College Field Class Begins

The Fort Lewis College Field Techniques in Agriculture class began on Monday, April 30,2010. They will install drip irrigation, set up treatments and plant plots.

OWM Treatments for 2010

The Learning Center will be installing 15 Organic Weed Management Treatments for 2010:

Control
Black Plastic
Red Plastic
White on Black Plastic
Embossed Black Plastic
Sunbelt Weed Fabric (Reusable)
EcoOne Biodegradeable Black Plastic
Embossed Biodegradeable Black Plastic
EcoCover (Biodegradeable)
Planters Paper (Biodegradeable)
Corn Gluten Meal
Horticulture Vinegar
Flaming
Hand Weeding
Glaser Wheel Hoe

Biological and Cultural Control of Pests

May 7, 2010 - Hesperus, CO

Topics:

Insect Identification
Longterm Grasshopper Management
Tamarisk Leaf Beetle
Vegetable Pest Management for Small Farms
Hands-on Insect Monitoring

Organic Weed Management Symposium on February 23, 2010

February, 23, 2010 in Mc Gee Park

Topics:

Who is Western SARE?
Cover Crops.
Insect Bio-control Agents.
Crop Rotations for Weed Control
Using grasses in Re-Vegetation
Organic Weed Management Learning Center for Commercial Market Gardens
Transitioning to Organic

Winter Time at Hesperus

The plots are well protected under the Winter snow here at 7600'

Raw Production Data

Raw Production data from 2009 growing season is available on the website at www.fortlewis.edu/owm

Ecover had the highest total production at 21.3 pounds, followed by Planters Paper at 19.9, Corn Gluten Meal at 18.6 and Glaser Wheel Hoe at 18.2 and Sunbelt Weed Fabric at 17.4 pounds. The lowest production was Shredded Paper at .8 pounds.