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Carl Schulz News & Activity

2022 Rototilling Requirements – Final Version

Year end requirements for all gardeners: 

Items 1 and 2 below are also year end responsibilities for all plot owners.

Preparation requirements when requesting volunteer rototilling:

Tasks include but may not be limited to:

1. Remove all prior growth to soil level.

2. Take down all poles, stakes, etc. and group at the edge of the plot.

3. Remove all string, wires, stones, plastic, wood, glass, hoses, etc.  

4. Resposition all tools, ornamentals, fencing, etc., away from soil area to be rototilled, where appropriate.

5. The soil areas to be rototilled, must be cleared of all obstructions, above and below the soil. 

6. The plots must be prepared as previously stated, otherwise rototilling will not take place.

7. All plot owners requesting volunteer rototilling assistance must sign up in advanceto determine equipment needs and be present on the  designated work day. Rototilling sign up and work day details will be published in a later notice.

Carl Schulz News & Activity

Seeking Event Committee Members

We are excited for a great gardening year ahead and have planned four Garden Gathering events on the Garden Calendar! Previous gatherings have included food (pot luck) and drinks as well as activities such as garden clean up days, roto-tilling, and workshops on various topics related to plants and gardening. They are a great opportunity to meet and greet new and “old” members and to come together as a community. 

To help organize these events, we need a few volunteers! If you are interested in participating on the committee, please e-mail Anne Kirschmann at annekir@comcast.net. Responsibilities would include helping to organize at least one of the four events, hopefully more than one! 

The first event is planned for Saturday April 2nd and will be our season opening celebration and spring garden cleanup day! We will end with a Harvest celebration in early October (specifics dates to be announced soon!). 

Many thanks from your Community Garden Steering Committee

  • Jim Graham
  • Lisa Guyot
  • Anne Kirschmann
  • Carl Schulz
  • Sandy Slavin
  • Ayres Souza
  • Hannah Traggis
Lisa Guyot Basic Information, Tips & Techniques

Update on Composting

Good Day Fellow Gardeners! 


I hope this post finds you all well. I wanted to send a note to update everyone about the new compost system. First and foremost, I am pleased to announce that we should have some of our own compost ready for the fall. I will update you as the season progresses. 

Please be aware that as you enter the composting area you will notice there are several bins that are zip-tied shut. These bins are closed as they are in the final stages of decomposing. Soon the bins will be labeled to eliminate confusion. Once they are labeled there will be a bin labeled green (i.e. fresh plant material) and another will be labeled brown (i.e. any dry plant material). We ask that you put your green material in the green bin and your brown material in the brown material. As materials become available members of the composting committee will layer it using a ratio of 3 parts brown to 1 part green in one of the bins. Right now the composting committee consists of Roger and I. We will be turning the bins once again in late July or early August if anyone would like to assist, please let me know (email: lguyot@uppercapetech.org).


If you would like to contribute materials from your garden or from your home, below are some materials that would be beneficial to our composting efforts. 
– grass clippings from lawns that are grown organically and are free of weed seeds- fruits and vegetables, free of oils- coffee grinds, filters are ok- weeds that have not gone to seed- hay and/or straw- egg shells- brown leaves


Please no animal products or oils.

***When adding materials from your yard or from your garden plot to our compost bins, please be very cautious to not add materials that may contain noxious weeds, like bittersweet or mugwort.***
I will keep you updated when the compost is ready. Thanks for helping our community garden to be such a huge success.


For more information and composting “how-tos”, please read this blogpost on our website! https://warehamcommunitygarden.org/reminder-about-guidelines-for-composting/
Warmest Regards,
Lisa GuyotWCG Steering Committee member

Carl Schulz News & Activity, Uncategorized

State Public Health Officials Confirm Season’s First West Nile Virus-Positive Mosquito Sample

Residents urged to use bug spray when outdoors

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced yesterday that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The presence of WNV was confirmed today by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory in a mosquito sample collected on June 29 in the town of Medford in Middlesex County. No human or animal cases of WNV or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been detected so far this year.  There is no elevated risk level or risk-level change associated with this finding. 

“The first WNV infected mosquito of the season is always a signal that it is time to start taking steps to avoid mosquito bites,” said DPH Acting Commissioner Margret Cooke. “WNV is part of summer in Massachusetts and as we head into this long holiday weekend, it is important to remember that while WNV can cause serious illness, there are simple things that you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 8 human cases of WNV in 2020. In 2018, there were 49 human cases of WNV infection acquired in Massachusetts – the greatest number of cases the Commonwealth has ever had in a single year. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. When present, WNV symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur.

“These simple actions can help protect you from mosquito bites and the diseases they can cause,” said Dr. Catherine M. Brown, State Epidemiologist. “The tools for prevention include using a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient according to the directions on the label, wearing clothing to reduce exposed skin when weather permits, draining standing water to prevent mosquito breeding, and repairing window screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home,” she said.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at Mosquito-borne Diseases | Mass.gov, which is updated daily, or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

To Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent When Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient (DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535) according to the product label instructions. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

Wear Appropriate Clothing to Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty unused flowerpots and wading pools and change the water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report this to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795, and to the Department of Public Health by calling 617-983-6800.

Release link.

Is Your Horse Protected?

WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are spread by mosquitos and can cause fatal neurologic disease in horses, other animals, and people. Routine vaccination can prevent these diseases in horses.


**Can’t afford this life-saving vaccine?** MDAR is partnering with local veterinarians to offer discounted or free EEE and WNV vaccination for equine owners with financial need. Ask your veterinarian for more information. www.mass.gov/service-details/wnv-and-eee-in-animals

MDAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Conservation & Technical Assistance, Agricultural Markets, Animal Health, and Crop and Pest Services – MDAR strives to support, regulate and enhance the rich diversity of the Commonwealth’s agricultural community to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production. For more information, visit MDAR’s website at www.mass.gov/agr.