Whitehall Garden Club News - May

In the merry, merry month of May, the Whitehall Garden Club started their meeting with a delectable breakfast table including a deeply delicious deep dish sausage egg bake (say that 3 times) and fresh-baked date-raisin and pineapple bread. The table sprinkled with Butterfingers and black licorice was too irresistible to skip. Thanks to Janet Chapman and John Carlson for setting the mood for the upcoming meeting with well-fed WGC members and guests!

The meeting was called to order by President John Carlson. We have many new members that have signed up for the WGC and we welcome them. The committees shared their news and we heard about the "tree-mendous" Arbor Day celebration with the many "branches" of agencies (for ex. USFS, NCAT, MSU Ext.) that attended along with private vendors such as Sage Mountain and the new nursery outside of Whitehall. Grades 3rd, 4th, and 5th from Whitehall Elementary School arrived with their enthusiasm for all things growing! Members Jayne, Kathy, Kay, and Ann offered a quick course on trees, and the history of Arbor Day while the students enjoyed planting a petunia (soil, cups, and plants donated by Wagner nursery, Butte). The Western Heritage Center brought in the "Learn About Soil" blow-up tunnel so all could learn what is in our soil, the chemical make-up, "things" that live in the soil, and the students were 'rooted' with interest.

The scheduled program presenter Kaleena Miller from the MSU Extension Office, was introduced by Dorie Westhoven. The presentation was focused on home composting and in addition to the garden club members, about twelve guests joined us to learn more about the topic. For those new to composting or even those who have attempted to compost with limited success, Kaleena's presentation provided encouragement and several tips to get folks going on the composting track. She discussed materials to include and leave out of your pile, walked through troubleshooting scenarios, and explored manure sources with the group. "What really made the presentation great was the experience shared by attendees. Folks talked about what materials they have found to work well and where to source some of those materials – I think that was really helpful to the new composters in the room." The presentation concluded with a live demonstration of building a composting bin in the middle of the room. Participants appreciated seeing the construction in real-time, as they asked questions about how much water to include and how to insulate the pile during our long winter months. For anyone who missed the presentation and is interested in home composting, feel free to contact Kaleena at 406-287-3282 kaleena.miller1@montana.edu.