Meet Master Garden Allen Hirst

                                             Soil First

When I first spot Allen Hirst, Master Gardener 2014, he’s at the Hutchinson Community College Demo Garden taking the soil’s temperature. The meat probe thermometer digitally displays a 55 degree reading. He explains that for planting annuals it’s best to wait until the soil warms up to 70 degrees, but assures me that once we get a little sun, the soil will quickly adjust. (I concur, mentioning how my tomato plants never grow an inch until they’re sure it’s summer.)

This morning there’s no need to water due to the recent steady rain so Allen is planting lettuce in the raised vegetable garden bed. He’s comfortable in this horticultural setting for a couple reasons: he was raised on a farm outside Partridge, and most of his teaching career was spent right here on the college campus teaching biology or, as he calls it, “birds and bees.” Allen enjoys giving back to this educational institution he still calls “JUCO.” He fondly remembers how, as a thirty year-old freshman, he was welcomed so many years ago.

HCC Demo Garden near the Pond & Fountain

Allen shared a couple of childhood memories from his farming days. One was the time his father used their "big "ole bull, Moses," to pull a plow to plant potatoes. Allen can still taste the family feast of "new potatoes, new peas and fresh fried chicken!" Another memory was the time during WWII when he was twelve, his older brother was off in the military service, and his father approached him and asked, "What you doin' this summer? Do you want to take piano lessons or go plow?" Allen chose. He drove the truck at harvest that season.    
 

Allen shared a couple Roses are Allen’s favorite flower. He’s seemingly always had them, especially when he and his wife lived on Thunderbird in Kisiwa. But vegetables, especially tomatoes, are also favorites

HCC Demo Garden Raised Beds

Allen’s Master Gardener project was focused on researching a community garden’s soil and learning how to increase its productivity. He understands that if the soil isn’t right then a lot of additional work is wasted effort. Pam Paulson at the Extension Office advised him that the soil’s pH 7.3 level was too high so Allen treated with fertilizer, added some compost, and lowered the slightly alkaline soil to pH 6.7. This, Allen claims, is “perfect for gardening.” It’s fun watching Allen, the biologist, problem-solve mysteries of the garden. We’re fortunate to have him as a willing and active Master Gardener volunteer. Submitted by Master Gardener #diginthedirt