Seneca Co. Cooperative Extension Open House

Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension (SCCCE) Master Gardeners’ are hosting an open house at their demonstration garden, located on the west side of the North Seneca Ambulance building on North Road in Waterloo on Saturday, June 21st from 10AM to 11AM. The garden was started two years ago in what was an empty field. The area now has composting, twelve raised beds full of vegetables and fruit, a newly planted butterfly garden, blueberry plants in tubs and a “test” area, complete with fencing, a sign and picnic table. Master Gardeners will be there to answer questions and show the public what they can do in a small space.The gardens are a collaboration with Cornell University Department of Horticulture and part of their statewide Cornell Garden-Based Learning Vegetable Variety Trial (VVT) which is in its third year. The project aims to gather data to help Cornell create their recommended list of vegetable and herb varieties for New York State gardeners. Each county that participates then rates the vegetable and herb varieties via the Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners citizen science online forum at http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/ The highlight of the demonstration garden this year is the nine 3×3 foot raised beds that are a tribute to the history of New York State. The first bed is a Native American garden planted with the Three Sisters. Next is the Colonial Period, followed by the Revolutionary War garden, the Civil War garden, the Industrial Age and Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II and a present day garden growing lettuce, tomatoes and peppers. The middle bed houses our state flower, the rose. All contain varieties that were grown during those time periods.Come to the open house to see what each bed contains and how it relates to that time in history. There are also 3 longer raised beds with various plantings, including herbs, a new butterfly garden, blueberries in tubs, and long rows of mounds of “experimental” varieties we are trying out. Learn about various growing methods and varieties and see what might work for you. There will be handouts available and Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions during the one hour garden tour and information session. Spinach and lettuce should be ready for sampling, so stop by!In case of rain, bring an umbrella and tour the gardens anyway. Please park in the back parking lot of the ambulance so as not to block any emergency vehicles.For more information please call the SCCCE office at 315-539-9251. Or visit our website at www.senecacountycce.org. Like us on Facebook to get up to the minute information!