10 Years Ago – Week of April 30, 2015
Gardening Tips . . .
By Pendleton County Master Gardeners
Raised Bed Gardening
by Julie Homan
Everyone has heard the old adage, “no pain, no gain,” but happily in gardening, that is no longer true. While it may sound like a pipe dream, it’s now possible to significantly increase the garden’s yield for about half the work. The secret is raised beds.
These beds generally eliminate the need for soil preparation with plows and roto tillers. Plants can be planted much closer together in raised beds, as the roots grow down rather than spreading out to capture moisture. Weeding time and effort are decreased, and when covered in plastic in either high or low tunnels, the growing season is extended significantly.
Raised beds can be used for all fruits, vegetables and ornamentals, as well as some trees and shrubs. They can be as simple as old tires, which are actually very effective for plants like mint, that jump borders easily and spread like wildfire, or for melons, pumpkins, or any viney plant that requires a lot of growing room.
Stacked rocks, sculpted blocks or bricks make particularly attractive beds for ornamentals and can really increase a lawn’s curb appeal.
However, the most common material used for fruit and vegetable beds is lumber. One word of caution, when purchasing treated lumber, make sure it is appropriate for use around edible plants.
Raised beds can be sized to the gardeners’ preferences. Things to consider when determining dimensions are what types of plants are going to be used and comfortable heights and widths for weeding and planting the beds. One will also want to decide whether an extended growing season is desired. If so, holes will need to be drilled into the wooden sides of the beds and pipe and plastic purchased to create tunnels.
Soil quality is as important in raised beds as it is in traditional gardening, so frequent soil testing and modification is essential. Soil test kits can be obtained from the Pendleton County Extension Office.
Watering, however, is even more important in raised beds. Ideally, a drip-style irrigation system would be used along with the raised beds. However, if that is not currently feasible, then try to build the beds as close to a water source as possible because daily watering is a must for optimal yield.
Get ready to learn how to build beds and make gardening enjoyable again, just in time for this year’s growing season.
20 Years Ago – Week of April 28, 2005
Sewing Machines Donated to County 4-H Program
John and Annette Douthat love 4-H.
These generous Louisiana natives are quite familiar with the 4-H community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills as they have been donating sewing machines to Louisiana State University Cooperative Extension Service 4-H agents through their business, AllBrands.com, for 25 years. This year, however, the Douthat’s benevolence went national.
The Douthats, owners of one of the leading Internet retailers of all brands of sewing machines, vacuums and appliances, contacted National 4-H Council with an offer to donate and distribute 1200 serviced Brother sewing machines, valued at more than $200,000, to 4-H programs across the country entirely free of charge.
The Pendleton County 4-H program was one of the 1,177 programs that received sewing machines due to the donations. The county now has two sewing machines that will be used to assist 4-H members with sewing projects and with sewing and craft classes during the local 4-H camps.
“We like the fact that 4-H is committed to teaching lifetime skills, whether it is sewing or anything else, and that they give awards recognition on all levels—county, state, national—to the youngsters. We have never been involved on the national level. This is our way of showing the industry that they should support 4-H which is doing a better job than any other organization in the country in teaching kids to sew,” John Douthat said.
John Douthat admires 4-H’s impact on individual youth.
“My wife and I have judged the casual garment contest, and the youth get very excited about their own creations. It gives them a personal identity of themselves and something different than they see on the street. We like that 4-H gives them that opportunity,” he said.
John Douthat said he has witnessed the positive effects of 4-H firsthand, and he believes the future of the sewing industry depends on 4-H. He said he hopes other suppliers will follow his lead.
“[4-H is] into urban as well as rural areas, and we think that the future of the sewing industry depends on how good of a job 4-H agents and volunteers do in giving these youngsters successful experiences in sewing,” he said.
60 Years Ago – Week of April 29, 1965
Senate Approves Funds For Purchase Of Seneca Rocks
U. S. Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) announced today that the Senate has approved an appropriation of $250,000 for the purchase by the National Forest Service of the famous Seneca Rocks in Pendleton County.
Senator Byrd said plans for an observation tower atop Spruce Knob in Pendleton County also have passed over the first hurdle with approval of a $100,000 appropriation by a Senate sub-committee.
Byrd said the Seneca Rocks would be incorporated in the Monongahela National Forest and would also be a major attraction in the proposed Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area which is to be established by legislation sponsored by Byrd.
70 Years Ago – Week of April 28, 1955
EDITORIALS
A New Church – – –
The Franklin E. U. B. congregation will dedicate its new church Sunday afternoon. This is the most built in Pendleton County in recent years.
Among other churches recently constructed or remodeled are Faith Lutheran Church in Franklin, Mt. Zion Methodist Church at Deer Run, St. John’s Lutheran Church at Moyers, Fairview Methodist Church at Fort Seybert and Big Run Presbyterian Chapel near Cherry Grove. There have been others but those mentioned are sufficient to indicate that the people of Pendleton County are a church-building, church-going people deeply interested in moral and spiritual development.
The world today is beset with problems and at the roots of most of them can be found individuals or countries that are seriously lacking in morals. Although it has been tried, morals cannot be legislated, and morals cannot be imposed by force. About the only way morals can be developed is by providing an environment in which man’s character is encouraged to grow and develop according to the rules laid down by the Ten Commandments.
One of the great contributions the church makes to mankind is the environment which it creates in the community. A community of many churches is usually a community of people with high moral character and few serious problems. We like Pendleton County because it is a land of many churches.
So we extend to the members of the Franklin E.U.B. Church our heartiest congratulations upon this very significant contribution which they have made to their community. The dedication of a new church reflects much work, devotion and sacrifice and it marks a great step toward a better world. May we have more of them.
How Your Blood Bank Works – – –
In response to a request, I am writing this article for the Pendleton Times to explain some of the policies of the blood bank at the Rockingham Memorial Hospital. The local blood bank is of course, under the technical direction of the hospital medical staff, with properly qualified technicians doing the work of drawing the blood, cross matching, etc.
There are two main types of blood banks. First, those who depend on relatives, friends and the community to furnish needed blood and second, those who affiliate with the Red Cross and draw their requirements from that organization. The reasons for setting up one type of bank or other is somewhat controversial, therefore, we will not develop this subject further. The Rockingham Memorial Hospital has the first type simply due to the fact that in the opinion of the medical staff and trustees, it more completely fills the needs of the community.
Our blood bank was started in 1929 with the names of a few persons who were willing to give blood. By 1935, the list had grown to include the local fire departments and service clubs. Those participating have always responded and to date, no person needing blood has been forced to go without it. That interest in the bank has continued as evidenced by the fact that during 1954, three county Ruritan clubs have been typed plus one new service club in Harrisonburg. Three more groups are waiting for our technicians to come to their meetings for typing. Only sufficient blood to meet emergency demands is kept in the bank as after three weeks it cannot be used for direct transfusion but must be converted into some other form such as plasma. This, plus the fact there are those who find it impossible to replace the blood they use which makes it necessary to ask for two pints of blood for the first pint used. Thereafter, we ask that blood be replaced pint for pint. In any case, this system has made it possible to furnish the freshest blood possible with a minimum of waste.
Contrary to what some think, no charge for blood has ever been made by the Rockingham Memorial Hospital. There is a service charge made on all transfusions to cover examination of the donor, tubing, needles, fluids and other necessities. This is a standard hospital charge and is made no matter what type of blood bank is being operated.
That this is a busy section of the hospital is demonstrated by the fact that in 1954, 859 pints of blood were drawn. In addition, 1500 matchings were done so that the blood could be used in case it became necessary.
Generally speaking, before asking someone to give blood, you should ascertain that he is not under eighteen or over sixty, is and has been in good health and has not given blood in the last ninety days. Also, the hospital prefers to draw blood between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. If it is possible to be here during those hours, a phone call will result in the hospital arranging to have someone available to draw the blood when it is possible for the donor to come.
The Rockingham Memorial Hospital is most appreciative of its support given by the citizens of Pendleton County and West Virginia. In fact, 11% of admissions come from your state. Any suggestions anyone has toward improving the hospital services will be gladly received and considered.
105 Years Ago – Week of April 30, 1920
MACKSVILLE
Farmers are very backward with their spring work on account of so much rain. The last few days has been very cold for April weather and it don’t look much like planting corn yet.
Lots of cattle are being driven from the valley of Virginia to the grazing farms in Alleghany and Rich Mountain and sinks country. All report grass very short.
The sad news reached us Saturday that the Derrick at Riverton had been burned down Friday night destroying a considerable lot of tools and so forth. A new equipment of tools had been placed on the ground and everything was in readiness to begin drilling at once. It is the opinion of the people that it was fired by some unknown scoundrel. We hope he will be found out and be brought to justice. We think that a life time sentence to the penitentiary would be a light sentence for such a crime. We hear the Derrick will be rebuilt at once.
KLINE
Cool weather this morning.
Bark peeling is the order of the day.
Owing to weather conditions, no corn has been planted.
We had the pleasure of traveling the new class A road below Franklin which was a pleasure to us such as we never had enjoyed through that section before. May the good work continue till Franklin and Petersburg are connected at least.
UPPER TRACT
Harry Crigler purchased a fine young horse of Mrs. Alice Hevener last week.
H. A. Kimble purchased a fine saddle horse in Highland last week.
