Soil

Construction of the new Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown is scheduled to be finished around the first week of May, with the library probably opening in June, said Joseph Kroboth III, the county's public works director. Those dates could change depending on construction progress, he said. The project has already experienced some delays. The latest cost estimate is $17.2 million, including approximately $1.2 million in approved change orders that account for slightly more than half of the project's contingency budget, Kroboth said Wednesday.

When Bob and Anne Courtemanche moved in 2006 from Randallstown, Md., near Baltimore, to Halfway, they brought their compost with them. "Bob thinks it's black gold," Anne Courtemanche says. The kind of gold homeowners and even apartment dwellers can make on their own. Compost helps recycle food waste such as vegetables and fruits; paper and yard waste such as grass trimmings, says Annette Ipsan, horticulture extension educator with the Washington County Office of the Maryland Cooperative Extension.

Q: I am considering competing lawn care programs. My lawn looks OK, but I don't know if I have enough topsoil. One program seems to be more interested in the soil, and the other one has a series of products to buy. What advice do you have? A: There are several ways a healthy plant can be grown. They can be grown in good soil without much effort; they can be grown in bad soil if they are fed enough nutrients to meet their needs and are monitored for inevitable problems; and some plants can be grown without soil via a hydroponic system.

Growing herbs inside is just as easy as outdoor gardening and requires the same conditions: plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. When growing indoor herbs: · Mix two parts sterilized potting soil and one part coarse sand or perlite. Add 1 teaspoon of lime per 5-inch pot or a cut of ground limestone per bushel of soil to ensure soil sweetness. Place an inch of gravel at the bottom of each pot to ensure good drainage. · Select a south- or west-facing window that gets lots of sun. "Grow lamps" or florescent lamps are good supplements.

By TERI JOHNSON Staff Writer Container gardening doesn't have to be expensive, and it is limited only by your imagination. Anything that will hold dirt and water can be used, says Father George Limmer of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hagerstown, who has been gardening in containers for years. Limmer offers the following advice: Containers You can buy large flowerpots to use, or you can get containers for free. Businesses often recycle or throw away large plastic containers that are perfect for gardening, so don't be afraid to ask, Limmer says.

Samantha Spencer, a member of the Boonsboro FFA chapter, competed in the National FFA Agriscience Fair in October during the 79th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Her project, "The Dirt on Soil," was on display at the convention.

What's the upside of raking all those fall leaves? Compost, gardener's gold. Dark, crumbly compost enriches the soil and grows healthier plants. Made from decayed leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps and more, compost is simply natural materials broken down into amazing soil food. Sure, Mother Nature breaks down natural stuff like leaves and twigs. But, she takes a long time. Composting speeds up the process to create a nutritious soil amendment in as little as two months.

You will not be reading about cicadas in this space, even though they have become prime grist for every other columnist in America. So spare me your cicada lore. I don't want to hear about how funny you thought it was that your cat was playing with one in the yard. I don't want to hear how hilarious it is to watch your dog go on a cicada bender, spending his days alternately eating the bugs and throwing them up. I don't want to hear from you freaks talking about how good they taste cooked in butter with white wine and shallots and tossed with shiitake mushrooms.

The Washington County Master Gardeners will hold a workshop on starter vegetable gardens Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Washington County Agricultural Education Center, 7303 Sharpsburg Pike in Boonsboro.   Participants will learn how to grow vegetables in small spaces including containers, raised beds, lasagna gardens and bags of soil. The workshop will cover soil testing, site evaluation and timing for best results.   The cost for the hands-on class is $10, which includes take-home seeds and a plant.  To request a registration form, call Diane at 301-791-1304 or send an email to dwoodrin@umd.edu .

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A berm made of contaminated soil from an old orchard and standing 23 feet high will be used to separate the 3,200-home Huntfield development from the historic Claymont mansion, officials said at a Charles Town Planning Commission meeting Monday night. A Huntfield official said using the contaminated soil to build the berm does not pose any public health risk and said the berm will be constructed in accordance with state regulations.