University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Hancock County
 Demonstration Hoop House

The Hoop House gardens at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Ellsworth give Master Gardener volunteers an opportunity to demonstrate different gardening methods and to participate in the Grow-A-Row for the Hungry program. Eleven indoor and outdoor raised beds are used for vegetable or flower gardening. Demonstration projects have included square-foot vegetable gardening, growing with row covers, tomato growing and staking methods, cutting-flower growing experiments, container gardening, and even building a lasagna garden.

A 20’ X 30’ hoop house with its three raised beds and cold frames located behind the Cooperative Extension Office lets volunteers try out season-extending growing and propagation methods. Master Gardeners designed and installed an automatic drip irrigation system for the hoop house with funds from the 2007 Master Gardener Plant Sale.

Ongoing projects include growing vegetables for the local food pantry and shelter and putting cut flower bouquets on display in the community. Master Gardener volunteers also maintain the demonstration strawberry and bearberry beds, and will be working to enhance surroundings behind the office building and complete the automated irrigation systems.

Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator, and Nicole Fici, Master Gardener volunteer and student at UMaine, will be conducting propagation trials for native honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) and rhodora ( Rhododendron canadense) as a special project during the ’09 season.     

 

to enlarge photo, click on the photo below

Brenda Measures for Sqare Foot Garden Square Food Garden Template Produce harvested for Plant a Row for the Hungry
Harvesting for Plant a Row for the Hungry Jim harvesting Jim Harvesting for Plant a Row for the Hungry
Lynn planning the Trickle Irrigation System Outdoor Raised beds late Spring Martha harvesting and weeding square foot beds
raised beds in full bloom Jim measuring for Lasagna Garden bed Georgianna placing wet paper down for Lasagna Garden Bed
Adding more damp newspaper Placing a layer of mulch Layering with mulch

 

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Last Modified: 03/06/09
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