Local Stories From Local People

Whether you’re a selfie taker, or prefer a more professional shot, here are the top _ spots for an awesome photo-op in Shipshewana.   Of course, when you first come into town the best place to start is the Visitors Center. Not only can you get a wealth of information, you can also take your …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     Scale insects are sap-feeding insects named for the scale or waxy, shell-like covering that hides their bodies.  There are more than 60 different kinds that occur in Indiana and yet are many times not noticed or ignored until tree or shrub branches start to die.  When …

Ribs. Brisket. Pulled Pork. Chicken. Is your mouth watering yet? Then you missed a great opportunity to have a full-on feast. The first ever Ribs @ Rogers event was a great success! The David Rogers Memorial Park filled up early in the morning with 14 vendors firing up their grills. I was lucky enough to …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     Any gardener worth his or her salt knows the many benefits of a good compost.  But what about this stuff called compost tea?   Well, it is something you can use on your plants as a foliar application or as a soil drench and it’s a way …

If you’ve been to the LaGrange/Elkhart County region in your lifetime, you can easily guess one of the largest industries, recreational vehicles. They’re everywhere; factories, driving down the road, dealerships, you can’t go a mile down the road without seeing an RV. It’s every day life for locals, but for those of us not involved in …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     One of the duties of a Master Gardener is to volunteer to answer questions that are received by the Extension office during the absence of the Extension Educator.  I have taken on that job in the past and received quite a few questions to answer.  One …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     An infestation of squash bugs (Anasa  tristis)can inflict quite a bit of damage in the garden.  They feed primarily on fruits such as pumpkins, melon and squash and can destroy the plant by sucking its sap from stems and leaves, causing the leaves to wilt and …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     In my opinion, the happy-face of the plant world is a big, beautiful, yellow sunflower.   They can be grown as a cash crop for their edible seed and oil or for the sunshine they add to a floral arrangement. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) grow rather rapidly producing …

  by Karen Weiland, Advanced Master Gardener     I have come into contact with gardeners who are seeking information on organic pest control for their gardens.  Their reasons range from wanting healthier options for their own consumption to environmental concerns. There are chemical free control methods that can be used to keep chemical use …