7/23/01

Contacts:
Cynthia Haynes, Horticulture, (515) 294-4006
Ed Adcock, Ag Communications, (515) 294-2314

DON'T BE CHICKEN, ATTEND ACREAGE/GARDEN FIELD DAYS

AMES, Iowa -- Fowl-feathered friends will be featured at this year's combined home acreage and home demonstration garden field days beginning Aug. 2 at Iowa State University's Research and Demonstration Farms.

"For this year's acreage field days, staff at most of the research farms will be discussing 'range-raised' broilers that are moved daily to fresh pasture using a device called a chicken tractor," said assistant professor Cynthia Haynes, who coordinates the demonstration gardens.

To complement the theme, the home demonstration gardens are growing plants that have chicken, egg or feather in their names. Each garden features at least six different "chicken plants."

"For the practical gardener who likes to maximize his or her available planting space, we have planted several varieties of compact vine crops," Haynes added. Bush and semi-bush type cantaloupe, watermelon, squash, cucumber and pumpkin, which are said to only spread 3 to 4 feet at maturity, will be on display.

The home demonstration gardens also will be testing red, black, olive and clear plastic mulches in growing tomatoes. Haynes said recent research suggests that colored plastic mulches increase early fruiting, trap insects or improve the overall health and productivity of certain vegetables.

A collection of ornamental plants noted for their dramatic and colorful foliage will be part of the field days. The annuals, vegetables and herbs add sparkle to gardens and containers all summer and need little maintenance.

Many of the farms have more on display than the themes mentioned. The farms participating in the home demonstration gardens, plus dates and times for each field day, are:

Research Farm, Location, Date, Time

Southeast, Crawfordsville, Aug. 2, 6:30 p.m.

Rhodes, Rhodes, Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m.

Muscatine Island, Fruitland, Aug. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Northwest, Sutherland, Aug 8, 6:30 p.m.

Allee, Newell, Aug. 11, 1 p.m.

Northeast, Nashua, Aug. 18, 4 p.m.

Armstrong, Lewis, Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m.

Western, Castana, Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Northern, Kanawha, Aug. 25, 4 p.m.

Directions to the farms:

Southeast--1.75 miles south and 2 miles east of Crawfordsville on the Washington/Louisa county-line road.

Rhodes--Highway 234 south to Highway 330 and southwest about 3 miles. Turn north on Binford Avenue and go half a mile. The lane to the headquarters is on the east side of the road.

Muscatine Island--111 North St. in Fruitland.

Northwest--11 miles north of Cherokee on U.S. Highway 59 and a quarter mile east on County Road B-62.

Allee--2030 640th Street, ISU Allee Farm, One mile South of Newell from Highway 7.

Northeast--1 mile south of Nashua on Highway 218, west about 1.5 miles on 290th Street (a gravel road).

Armstrong--11 miles southeast of Atlantic on Highway 6, .5 mile south and .75 mile east.

Western--4 miles east of Castana on County Road E-34.

Northern--Just south of Kanawha on County Road R-35.

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