The 30th Annual Pasco Chamber Auction, Viva Las Vegas, is right around the corner and tickets are going fast. The auction will be held on April 10 at the Pasco Red Lion beginning with a social hour at 6:00pm. there will be a silent auction, dinner, and a live auction. Those who are interested in supporting the Pasco Chamber of Commerce but who are unable to attend can make item donations in the name of their business or family. These items can be anything that are considered to reflect the business or that would attract some bids. Those interested in buying tickets for a table of 8 the cost is $240 or individual tickets for $35 per person, can call the Pasco Chamber at 509.547.9755 or email rsvp@pascochamber.org.
The Pasco Chamber is always looking to add to their e-communications or print. If you have anything worth mentioning about promotions, changes in business address, events around town, etc. The Chamber asks that you please email them to admin@pascochamber.org.
For many, the thought of starting a garden is rather daunting, for those who think this but want to start one this year, here are ten easy tips for the novice gardener.
1. Location of the garden needs to be in full sun
To produce the best vegetables, the plants need at least six hours of direct sun. if this amount of sun is unavailable then the garden needs to be relocated or kept to just leafy greens being grown.
2. Soil needs to be well-drained
If water sits in the soil too long then roots aren’t able to breathe. To check how well the soil drains dig a hole and pour water in it. With a ruler measure how fast the water drains, if it drains slower than 1-inch in an hour then a new location needs to be chosen.
3. Place the garden close to a door
If the garden is close to a door then it will be more visible by you and more likely that you will work in it.
4. Begin with a small garden
If the garden is too big, it may turn into a chore rather than an enjoyment. An ideal size garden to start with would be a 10×10 foot plot.
5. Put a fence around your garden
To keep other animals from getting into your garden and eating you plants, build a small fence around the garden. Chicken wire is inexpensive and effective, if needed the bottom half can be bent and covered with soil to keep animals from digging under the fence.
6. Increase the visual appeal of your garden
By adding beauty to your garden, it draws you in and causes you to enjoy it more. The garden could be dressed up by placing wooden pickets on the outside of a chicken wire fence. An arbor with climbing beans on it could also increase the visual appeal of the garden.
7. Plan the layout of your garden in four dimensions to optimize the use of space
The first dimension and second dimension flow together, they would be planting the plants in wide beds instead of rows. The third dimension would be adding plants that have height, not just ground level plants. The last dimension is adding plants that grow at different times, when one plant is done another grows in its place.
8. Fertilize and water at the right times
Fertilize in late winter with an organic fertilizer, if there is still vegetation growing then use soybean meal or spread compost. Place a can out to measure rain fall, make sure that there is about an inch of water going into the ground by using the rain and a sprinkler.
9. Weed your garden regularly
If weeds are let go they become very difficult to get rid of and kill. To avoid having to get rid of difficult weeds, weed regularly while they are tiny.
10. Choose the vegetables you like to eat and the varieties that taste the best
By choosing vegetables that you like to eat, you are ensuring that you will enjoy the profits of your garden. To get the best tasting varieties look online or go to your local gardening store and ask someone who works their; do your research.
The Tri Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau will be hosting an educational seminar called “Winning the Battle in the Internet War” at the Holiday Inn Express in Pasco on April 21. This seminar will be instructed by Michael Belba who will be teaching attendees about bow to gain high search-engine placement in Google and capture free website traffic. Belba will also help attendees discover other online techniques to attract potential customers that aren’t using search engines at all. This event is being sponsored by Washington Closure Hanford, LLC. The seminar begins at 8:00 am and goes until 11:30 am; there will be a deluxe continental breakfast service from 7:30 am – 8:00 am. There is a $15 cost for bureau members. For more information contact The Tri Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau at 509.735.8486 or at 800.254.5824.
Washington State University Tri Cities will be holding Cougar Saturday on April 17 at the Richland campus. Cougar Saturday will be held in the Consolidated Information Center from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. The purpose of this event is to inform those interested in attending WSUTC about academics, financial aid, graduate school, and more. Cougar Saturday is free and open to the public. For more information call 509.372.7250 or visit the Washington State University Tri Cities website.
International representatives from the Washington State Departments of Agriculture and Commerce will be here in the state to meet with companies and talk about opportunities for new and expanded export business during the week of March 15 – 19.
On Monday, the Department of Agriculture’s International Marketing Program will bring its trade representatives covering Japan, China and Taiwan to the Tri-Cities. Company appointments have been scheduled throughout the day on Monday, March 15, at the Tri-Cities Business and Visitor Center. Companies will have the opportunity to meet with WSDA trade reps to gain information on doing business in these three markets, identify potential new business partners and work on company specific issues they are facing in these markets. Meetings will be held in Yakima, Tacoma and Seattle the remainder of the week. WSDA’s International Marketing Program partners with Washington’s food and agriculture industry to help producers and companies sell their products overseas by matching qualified buyers with sellers and by mitigating market access barriers for Washington food products.
For information contact Rebecca Weber by email at rweber@agr.wa.gov or by phone by calling 509.735.3666.
Henry’s Restaurant in West Richland will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 with a special for the day. This St. Patrick’s Day special will be a main course of Corned Beef and Cabbage; the meal will come with Steamed Baby Red Potatoes, Steamed Cabbage, Garden Salad & Dinner Rolls all for $10.95. For more information or to make reservations, which are accepted call 509.967.2657.
Apollo Incorporated in Kennewick was recently announced as one of the top five safest companies in Washington State out of nearly 30,000 companies by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Apollo is based in Kennewick but they do full mechanical work across the U.S. and around the world. Officials at Apollo say that the company has been working hard since 2003 to create an environment where there are no injuries; they credit the recognition to a team effort. Apollo was second only to Enterprise Rental Car.
This morning at the Applebees in Richland the 6th grade class at Liberty Christian School spent a few hours serving people breakfast to earn money for their trip to Camp Ghormley. The 6th graders have been selling tickets for the last few weeks to friends and families for $7. Of the $7, $2 goes back to Applebees and the other $5 goes to the 6th graders for their trip; they also were able to keep the tips which went into a lump sum and divided among all the students. The purchased ticket was good for three pancakes, two sausage links, and a beverage. All the 6th grade students waited on tables, brought out the food and drinks, and cleared the tables.
My family and I were at Round Table Pizza in Richland last night talking to a friend, Keith McNeely and the topic of this blog came up. As we were talking to Keith, he mentioned that he really enjoys reading these blogs to stay informed about all the events going on in the Tri Cities. He also mentioned that he would like to see more about wine tastings in the area. Of course I had to go home and look into wine tastings in the area.
E very Wednesday evening at Barnard Griffin in Richland there is a wine tasting. Each week five different wines are chosen with snacks to go with each wine. The cost is $5 and those who make wine purchases during this time receive a 5% discount. For more information call Barnard Griffin at 509.627.0266.
Anelare Wine has a tasting studio open Thursday and Friday from 4:00 to 8:00, Saturday from Noon to 8:00, and Sunday from Noon until 4:00. There are also appointments available at other times for formal tastings or for a bar tasting. For more information or to make an appointment call Analare Winery at 509.735.3838.
.jpg)