Mulching Strawberries

The weather has beat me to covering the strawberries with snow. Strawberries are hardy. Straw, hay or in my case ornamental grass is used to prevent early bloom, frost heaving and to keep the berries out of the dirt. Anytime you can get around to mulching them will be fine.

A House of Sugar

Some illustrious 2-4th graders have been creating cottages – out of graham crackers, frosting and sweet treats. The foundation begins with a small milk carton set upon a white paper plate. The frosting is concocted with powdered sugar, water and meringue powder to make it set stiff.

Students had to plan a budget for their decorating costs. Candy items ranged in price from 5¢ to 20¢. Each student had $1.50 to spend on their house decorations. The students recorded their purchase intentions on a special sheet and then brought their money with their plan to the table. Be careful though – new crackers will cost you 10¢, if yours happen to break!

I was able to decorate my house on a budget of $1.20. What do you think?

Tree Pruning

Trees pruned correctly will seal over to prevent insect and disease from having an opening. These pictures represent the process. The pruning cut is made outside the branch collar which is a swollen area where the branch and trunk meet. Now is a fine time to manage your trees and make limb removal decisions.

Removal of a limb requiring a pruning saw is removed in three steps. The first cut is made under the limb, 12 inches from the trunk. Cut a third of the way through the trunk. The second cut is made from the top down 14 inches from the trunk until the limb snaps off. The final cut removes the remaining portion of the limb. This final cut is made outside the branch collar and leaves mostly a circular wound.

For good information on pruning, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning.shtml

Tree Pruning

Lawn Fertilizing

Applying fertilizer takes some effort. The easiest way is to measure the square feet of area. This is done by multipling length times widith. Use the right amount of product to get 1 to 1.5 pounds of actual nitrogen per thousand square feet. Put the fertilizer setting low and go over the lawn in several directions until the fertilizer is used up.

This picture indicates where the fertilizer was applied and where it wasn't. To remedy this lawn, apply some more nitrogen fertilizer between the dark areas.

Member Achievements

A big celebration is set for Sunday, November 8! Riley County 4-H members will receive special recognition for 4-H achievements. We will recognize members for Leadership, Citizenship, project work, and more. A new award will be presented for Citizenship this year to one Riley County member.

We will also be recognizing volunteers for their years of service. A family will be honored as 4-H Family of the Year and another long time 4-H volunteer will receive the Volunteer Service Award.

A slide show of achievements will be shared, followed by a light dinner. The delicious finish will be a build your own ice cream sundae!

Great work 4-H members! We look forward to celebrating your work at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday!

Fall soil preparation

Fall is the best time to loosen the soil. Organic matter can be worked in and any added nutrients that a soil test would indicate beneficial. This raised bed of mine was allowed to grow a cover crop all year. I planted it last fall with grass. The organic matter will break down over winter and it should be ready to plant my spring salad crops.

We have had plenty of moisture and working the soil when it is wet isn't best. However, the freezing and thawing this winter will help loosen the clods made when turning over wet soil.

Winterizing Roses

Last year it got cold fast and my hybrid tea roses went through several hard freezes before I got the mulch put on them. None died but they were very small and took a while to bloom. The forecast called for really cold temperatures so I hurriedly got them covered this year with woodchip mulch.

The hard frost didn't happen but I'm not going to uncover. It will be interesting to see how they survive the winter. Healthy plants going into dormancy is important as well as winter protection.

Hardy shrub roses that don't require protection are becoming more popular. See a recommended list of shrub roses at http://www.riley.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=199

The BIG Sale

Raising money takes a l-o-n-g time, according to teen time! The mission is to raise enough money to travel to Washington, D.C. in June. So, in honor of this longstanding 4-H tradition, Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) would like to invite you to the BIG fall sale.

The “garage” sale will take place at Pottorf Hall on Saturday, October 10, from 7:30-11:00 a.m. Pottorf Hall is located at CiCo Park in Manhattan, right off of Avery Avenue.

The building will be filled with furniture, appliances, adult clothing, children’s clothing, games, toys, books, shoes, bags, kitchen items, crafting supplies, linens, electronics and much more. Large items will be priced, and clothing will be sold by the bag for $4. All remaining “bagable” items will be sold for $4 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Baked goods and coffee will be sold too. Come support local teens as they learn more about our nation’s government, and collect some wonderful items!

National 4-H Week

Happy National 4-H Week! National 4-H Week is currently being celebrated across the United States, October 4-10, 2009. Clubs are hosting recognition events, school information events, displaying their project work and helping people learn more about this family program. Watch for 4-H announcements and listen for what 4-H members are doing in your local community in newspapers and local radio stations.

4-H is over 100 years old, and offers learning experiences for boys and girls. 4-H is for families! Parents and other adults help children learn by teaching them about a specific project – for example – plant science. Adults also serve as mentors and assist youth in planning events and running their meetings.

Riley County is home to 14 community 4-H clubs and 3 project clubs. The clubs meet throughout the county, so there is certain to be one near you. October 1 started the new 4-H year; now is the time to consider 4-H for your family. 4-H experiences start for youth as young as 5, and continue through high school. Here is hoping that you catch that clover enthusiasm!

Thoughts on Lunchtime

It’s been a busy morning in the Extension Office so lunch time took me by surprise. Come to think of it, it’s been a busy 10 days or so which explains why I haven’t had time to go grocery shopping and my fridge was bare this morning. Since my stomach was starting to rumble I set out, with debit card in hand, in search of some lunch. I’m lucky to have two grocery stores within walking distance of my office. Deciding that I could use the exercise, I set out for the farther of the two. Upon entering the grocery store, I was faced with all kinds of choices from frozen entrees to piping hot entrees in the deli. Since I might not have time to make the trek again tomorrow, I decided to buy for several days. I bought a package of specialty sandwich bread ($2.50), some delicious French onion spreadable cheese ($3.59), a half pound of sun dried tomato turkey ($3.92) from the deli, eight apples and two bananas. My total bill--$14.26. Sounds pretty steep for lunch—until you stop to think that I bought eight lunches. Today’s lunch cost me $1.78, and I’ve still got a banana for my mid-afternoon snack. As I waited for my turkey to be weighed, I noticed that I could have gotten a gourmet sandwich from the deli (with the same turkey and similar cheese) for $5.00 or I could have gone a little further down the counter I could have gotten the full meal deal for $7.99.

By shopping for the sandwich fixin’s myself and making my own lunch, I saved somewhere between $3.22--$6.21. If you figure that I eat at least five lunches away from home each week, it amounts to $837.20-$1614.60 a year in savings. Granted packing a lunch requires either some forethought or a fridge at work, but could you use an extra $800-$1600? I can’t decide what I’m going to do with it---pay the dentist…buy my daughter a clarinet… replace my freezer…put a down payment on my son’s trip to Washington, D.C….fix my sagging deck…save it for next year’s vacation….

Sweet Potato Harvest

After preventing deer from eating the leaves of the sweet potatoes, they are now ready for harvest.

Sweet potatoes should be harvested no later than the first fall freeze because cold temperatures can damage the sensitive roots. However, you maywant to harvest earlier if you prefer a smaller sweetpotato. Test dig a hill to see if they are the size you want.

Sweet potatoes should be cured after being dug. The digging process often damages the tender skin and curing helps these small wounds heal over. Place the roots in a warm, humid location for 5 to 10 days immediately after digging. A location with a temperature around 85 to 90 degrees is ideal. A space heater can be used to heat a small room or other area. Raise the humidity by placing moist towels in the room. The curing process not only heals wounds but also helps convert starches to sugars. This process improves the texture and flavor of the roots.

Sweet potatoes should be stored above 55 degrees. Storage at temperatures below that injures the roots, shortens storage life and gives them an off flavor.

A Balloon for Your Tailgate?

September has arrived, and football excitement is here too! Join the Riley County K-State Research and Extension staff for a tailgate party sure to please on Thursday and Friday, September 3rd and 4th from 5-9 p.m. each evening. Our booth will be in the center of Poyntz Avenue, directly in front of the Courthouse.

We are exploring “Farm to Tailgate,” and event visitors will learn how their tailgate fare was created from Kansas Agriculture products. Register for a tailgate gift package, complete with paper products, condiments, grill and accessories, tailgate food and a $25 gift certificate for Ray’s Apple Market pork products. The gift certificate is sponsored by the Blue Valley Pork Producers.

Extension Agents and Riley County Extension Council members will be at the booth answering visitor questions, creating balloon animals and showcasing local agricultural grains and products. Come check it out! Goooooo CATS!

Verticillium wilt in Maple

My Amur Maple tree allee is suffering from Verticillium wilt. This disease is found in catalpa, redbud, maples, and Russian olive. I have lots of redbuds without this disease. Affected trees show a rapid wilting and drying of leaves in a portion of the tree crown, or in some cases, throughout the entire crown. Vascular discoloration can sometimes be seen on the cut ends of wilted branches.

Christmas Shopping In August!?!?

I bought my first Christmas gift this week! I know—the back-to-school supplies are still on the shelves, but this is actually late for me. Sometimes I start my shopping in January!

I find that saving money all year long, and buying gifts throughout the year helps me to avoid the credit card blues each January.

Do you have a holiday account? Holiday accounts are offered by most financial institutions as a way to help you save for holiday expenses. In most cases, you make weekly or monthly deposits into this account starting early in the year, but you can’t make any withdrawals. Depending on how the account is set up, your bank will give you a check for the amount you have deposited throughout the year plus interest in October or November. You can either make the deposits yourself or arrange to have them automatically deducted from a bank account.

The holiday savings account is a good option for those who are not disciplined enough to set aside money each month for Christmas. This can help you develop the discipline if you need it. One of the best ways to begin saving money is to do it automatically. If you are interested in opening a holiday savings account, talk to an account representative at your local bank or credit union.

Happy shopping!

Back to School = Back to Routine

The school bells are ringing once again, and it is hard to believe that summer has about ended! Now is the time to start a school routine that is sure to earn “A’s.” Has your family mapped out the school course?

· Lay out clothes the night before, and this will cut down on some of the morning rush.
· If packing a lunch, pack what can be packed the night before. Place all room temperature items, such as crackers, chips, napkins, silverware, etc. in the box or bag. Add the refrigerated items in the morning before you step out the door.
· Gather your backpack goods before you head to bed. Have it all together, and ready by your front door.
· Set aside a designated homework “spot.” Keep pencils, pens, erasers, markers, crayons, rulers and paper at this site.
· Determine a homework time, and stick to it.
· Get plenty of sleep. Brains function better on sleep. Try to keep bedtimes consistent each night.
· Eat breakfast before you dart out the door. Breakfast is the most important brain fuel.

How did you do? If the above items become your school habits, then you will definitely make the grade this year. Good luck!!

Grape Harvest

My Reliance grape is reaching maturity. It has two disease issues. Anthracnose which are the "bullseye" lesions on the fruit and black rot which makes the dried up or raisin like fruit. Protective fungicide sprays along with cultural practices are needed to manage these diseases. See Extension publication Fruit Tree Spray

Deer Feeding

Deer have found my sweet potatoes. I need to get the bird netting out to protect the leaves so that they can feed the roots.

Tobacco Hornworm

Sorry for the poor picture. I have this tomato on my deck in an Earthbox and I was up against my wall to take the picture. It is a tobacco hornworm feeding on the tomato. Control is picking it off. Missing leaves and the fecal material are sure signs to look closely for the culprit.

Minor Measurement Mix-Up

Last week was the first ever Cooking Camp experience for 19 third-fifth grade students. Ginny and Andrea led the “Chefs” in designing aprons, games, cooking, measuring, kitchen safety, menu planning and a host of other culinary skills. Our young “chefs” quickly learned that a key to any recipe success is to read.

Our breakfast themed day involved work with eggs. Cracking eggs and separating eggs were listed as favorite activities by many of the young cooks. After practice with eggs, it was time to get down to business of completing the recipe for a creation. The recipe of “Sunrise Sandwiches” took on a little hint of night because of a measurement mistake.

The chef team quickly grabbed ingredients and added a ¼ cup of pepper and a ¼ cup of salt to their recipe of 6 eggs. Shredded cheddar cheese was thrown in to complete the mix. After a quick look in the bowl, the adults discovered that the recipe did not quite look right.

After a chat with the team, and a review of the recipe, it was discovered that the recipe actually required a ¼ teaspoon of both salt and pepper. Without enough eggs to remedy the large quantity of salt, we scrapped that batch and began again.

The second recipe was truly sunny – bright yellow and orange – and quickly gobbled up by some very hungry cooks!

Herbicide injury

This tomato, I've been growing in a 5 gallon bucket using only compost from the KSU beef unit compost. It has done poorly on account that there appears to be some residual herbicide in the compost. Note the distorted leaves. It does have a few tomatoes.

Summer Vacations

It doesn’t matter what we do or where we go on vacation, it’s just important that we get away. According to Joe Robinson, author of “Work to Live- A Guide to Getting a Life,” taking a vacation is as important as watching your cholesterol or exercising. Americans forfeited an average of four vacation days each last year. Approximately 574 million vacation days were lost. Don’t let your vacation days go to waste.

If you are searching for a low-cost vacation, a couple of options come to mind. Did you know that Rock Springs 4-H Center offers family camping opportunities? Yep, the entire family can stay for a weekend and experience the “Spirit of the Springs”. Family camps are offered:
July 3 - 5
July 10 - 12
July 31 - August 2
August 14-16
September 4-6

You can decide whether you want to rough it in tents or pamper yourself in Leadership Lodge. Rock Springs staff will take care of the cooking while you enjoy swimming, canoeing, horseback riding and the other fun activities that Rock Springs has to offer. More information is available at http://www.rocksprings.net/.

Another fun option for a stay-at-home vacation is the Riley County Fair, July 23-27 at CiCo Park in Manhattan. There’s lots of fun things for the whole family to enjoy. You can see 4-H exhibits and livestock, take part in the pedal tractor pull, or enjoy food on the mid-way. On July 23, 24 and 25 you can catch a performance of the Kaw Valley Rodeo. The Ottaway Amusements carnival will be at the fair and offer $20 wristbands each night. You can also check out local talent at the Riley County Idol Contest, July 24-26 in the entertainment tent. Live local entertainment will follow the Idol performance each evening. For a complete schedule and more detailed information, visit http://www.rileycountyfair.com/.

Whether you decide to check out one of these options or one of your own, travel safe and enjoy your summer!

Strawberry Harvest

Something had been harvesting my berries before I could. I first thought it was sowbugs (roly-polies). Some carbaryl products are labeled for use with only a 1 day waiting period which would be do able. I went out early in the morning and didn't find any so I haven't treated.

I got out the bird netting to eliminate that possibility. I ended up catching a garter snake in the netting. They aren't suppose to feed on strawberries. Any how, I'm getting to harvest.

Freezer Meal Save Time and Money

Monday I got home from work at 5:45 and had to be at a meeting by 7:00. Not much time to fix dinner. Tuesday evening the family had to be at the school for awards night by 7:00. Again, not much time to fix dinner. Wednesday night my husband had to be at a City Council meeting by 6:30. For the third night in a row, the meal fixing window was short. I could have run by the grocery store or through the drive-thru for takeout, but we don’t need the extra calories and it’s hard to feed a family of four takeout for less than $20, even if it is fast food. Lucky for me, I had a stock pile of meals prepared and in the freezer for weeks such as this.

Freezer meals are a great way to make sure my family gets a nutritious meal and that we have time to eat together. Usually about once a month I have a major cooking session, fill all the pans in my cupboards with food and stick them in the freezer. Some of our family favorites are beef stroganoff, lasagna, and chicken enchiladas. These meals are a life saver!

Would you like to learn how to prepare a stock pile of freezer meals for your family? Join me and Ginny Barnard for a Freezer Food Fiesta on June 18 from 6-8:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan. During the Fiesta, participants will learn the basics of once-a-week cooking and prepare a week’s worth of meals to take home. The evening will include a tasting dinner, games, and recipes for a $35 registration fee. It will be a perfect night out—so bring a friend. Register today at www.riley.ksu.edu .

I actually harvested three heads of broccoli last night. One was ready and I needed the other two to make enough to serve.

Harvest terminal heads while the floret is tight and of green color. The flowers are yellow and if that color is starting, harvest immediately. Smaller side shoots will develop after the main head is cut.

I never sprayed mine for cabbage worm since the row cover has been left on the whole time.

"Forever Green"

School is about out. After talking with some 4-H members yesterday, I learned that they will be out of school one day earlier than the calendar indicated. I asked the sixth grader why this was the case, “Well, we already have all our hours in, so we get to be done a day earlier!” She was definitely excited about this prospect.

The end of school signifies another “season” in the year of youth programming. I refer to this season as “T-Shirt Season.” Youth events are all about fun, learning, friends --- and the t-shirt. My t-shirt population is about to experience its annual growth spurt. Speaking of t-shirts, we could use your help, or your thoughts about our fair t-shirt.


Our theme is “Forever Green,” which will be printed on the t-shirt in some fun logo fashion. The question really is: What shade of green should we choose for the shirt? Should it be lime, kiwi, kelly, avocado, artisan, forest or none of the above? Which color is your favorite? Monday is when the big decision will be made. Mull it over, and let us know your choice. Red light, GREEN light – GO!

My Favorite Recipe

Growing up, Mom always needed a little help in the kitchen. She prepared many meals for my sisters, my Dad and I. As we grew older, each one of us (I was one of six kids) had a day to prepare dinner for the family. I started to experiment, and grew to love cooking!

My favorite meal to prepare is baked chicken and potatoes. Yum! It was fun to make, and even more fun to eat. I added a little cheese to the potatoes and ranch dressing for a little twist. This recipe was definitely a keeper.

In honor of cooking, and because I grew to love cooking as a kid, Riley County Extension is hosting a Kids Cooking Camp. This day camp will be held at the Riley Centre, June 22-26, from 9-noon each day. Kids will get to explore the world of cooking and learn about food safety, kitchen utensil ID, shopping on a budget, selecting ingredients, measuring and other cooking skills.

This camp is for current 3-5 graders. A registration form can be found at www.riley.ksu.edu and the cost to attend is $30. Only 25 students will be accepted, and registration will close on June 10. Bon appétit!

The Intern says "Farewell"

I began this blog a few months ago as part of my internship with Riley County Extension. I originally intended to do most of the posting throughout the semester and then have the other agents post more and more after I left. However, due to some unexpected “agent enthusiasm,” I have had little need to post anything this semester! I’m glad that we have some actively posting agents in the county and I hope that we get some more blog followers and readers in the months and years to come. The blog is a great way to stay connected and informed of Extension events and resources.

Before I officially take my name off the as an author of the blog, I’d just like to take this time (and blog space) to say how wonderful my experiences with Riley County Extension have been this semester. I have gotten the opportunity to work on many different projects and programs and have enjoyed every one of them. The internship was a great learning experience for me and makes me feel even more prepared to enter the “real world” after I graduate from K-State this summer. Everyone at Riley County Extension made me feel welcomed and valued during my time here, and it will be sad to leave. I highly recommend looking into Riley County Extension to any prospective interns out there – it’s a great place to be, and I couldn’t have had a better internship experience anywhere else!

Storm Season Calls for Insurance Check-up

It’s spring in Kansas and that usually brings about a few storms and tornadoes. This past weekend’s weather was a reminder that storms can strike with very little warning. When warnings are issued and the sirens blow, it’s too late to worry about your insurance coverage. Now is the time to review your policies to make sure you have the proper coverage.

Homeowners are all too often surprised to learn that their coverage doesn’t cover expenses related to water and wind damage; debris or tree removal; sewer back-up due to flooding; sump pump failure; or additional living expenses if the disaster destroys your home. Read your policy thoroughly to find out what your policy covers. Contact your insurance representative if you have questions, and consider buying additional coverage if necessary.

Renters and home owners alike should check policy payout limits, including the amount for the contents of the home. If you’ve bought new or additional furnishings, you may need to increase your coverage. This is especially true when you purchase big ticket items like big screen televisions, stereo systems or home furnishings or appliances.

In the event of a disaster, the settlement amount you’ll receive will depend on the type of policy you have. Two common policy types are replacement cost and actual cash value. A replacement cost policy will provide you with the dollar amount necessary to replace damaged items without deductions for depreciation. An actual cash value policy pays the amount needed to replace the item minus depreciation. For example, let’s say that a tree falls on your house during a storm and demolishes your 10 year-old roof. If you have a replacement cost policy, the insurance company would pay the entire cost of replacing the roof, minus your deductible. An actual cash value policy would pay a smaller percentage of the replacement cost. You would be responsible for the rest of the cost. If you typically do not have enough money on hand to cover your portion of the replacement costs, you’ll probably want to choose a replacement cost policy.

Most policies do not cover damage caused by rising waters. If your home is located in a flood prone area, consider buying federal flood insurance. Storms can also wreak havoc on vehicles so check your auto policy too. Comprehensive, rather than collision, coverage pays if a storm or flood damages your car.

Storms are a fact of life in Kansas, but they’re not nearly as disastrous to the pocketbook if you have the right insurance coverage. If you would like more information about insurance, contact Jennifer Wilson at the Riley County Extension Office. You can reach me by calling 537-6350 or stopping by 110 Courthouse Plaza, Rm B220 or by e-mail at jrwilson@ksu.edu.

4-H Twilight Trail Hike

Riley County 4-H Health & Wellness project leader, Dianna Schalles, is planning the first ever “Twilight Trail Hike” for 4-H members and families. The hike will take place at Annenberg Park, on Friday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Participants should plan to gather at the Shelter House next to the playground. We will make trail mix, explore pedometers and hike around the loop. Youth all ages are welcome, and youth age 13 and younger must be accompanied by a parent.

This is the first of a series of three hikes that Dianna will be coordinating. The second hike will be held on Saturday, June 27 at Linear Trail. Other fun activities will also be held in conjunction with this hike. A third hike will be held in August or September.

Since food supplies will need to be purchased ahead of the hike date, we need an RSVP. Please email Dianna at diannas@ksu.edu by May 22 for the May 29th hike. Additional information will come later for the June hike.

Come walk the trail with Riley County 4-H!

I fertilized my broccoli with some urea (straight nitrogen) fertilizer. I pulled back the row cover to fertilize and watered it in. I then put the row cover back.

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage can be fertilized 3 weeks after field transplanting with a half a pound of urea (46-0-0) per 100 feet of row. Or half a tablespoon of urea per plant.

4-H Recycle Sale

The weather is getting a bit warmer – slowly – and Riley County 4-H members are ready to ring in the spring cheer with a sale. So, mark your calendars to come and visit Pottorf Hall on Saturday, April 18. The sale will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will feature a variety of items: housewares, décor, electronics, books, toys, games, yard, sporting goods, small appliances, furniture, linens and much more than can be listed.

Most people think of spring as a perfect time to clean out the closets, and get the house ready for the warmer weather. 4-H families have searched through their home treasures to determine items they no longer need. These items will be featured at the 4-H Garage Sale. The sale is a great place to find items you need, add to your family board game collection, or update your home décor.

Sale visitors will want to stop back by at 10:30 a.m., as the bag sale begins at that time. During the last hour of the sale, customers will receive a bag (large paper bag size) and will be invited to put anything in the bag. Each bagful of items will be $4. Customers may fill as many bags as they wish.

This sale is one way that 4-H members participating in the Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) program, raise funds to cover travel expenses, for this government learning experience. The group will travel to Washington, DC during the summer of 2010 to learn more about the national governmental process.

Calling all Youth

Most of this blog’s readers are likely familiar with 4-H – K-State Research and Extension’s youth development program. 4-H is an awesome program, but wouldn’t it be great if we could make it better? After all, the motto is, “To Make the Best Better.”

Riley County 4-H serves 360 youth ranging in age from 7-19 in the traditional club setting, or clubs that meet once per month. Riley County Extension also offers educational enrichment to classrooms and provides resources and instruction for after school settings. About 2,500 youth in Riley County experience 4-H resources through this format.

Riley County is also home to Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, faith-based organizations and a myriad of others. Most of us are reaching some of the same youth participants. Likely, there are youth out there in Riley County, who have not been reached at all.

How can we reach more youth with less resources? Could Riley County design a county-wide youth organization? What would it look like to have youth gain benefits from all these organizations? How can we maximize the strengths and talents of these local organizations to create an impactful educational experience? This is on my mind at the moment. What do you think??

Go Green Project Day A Success!

Riley County 4-H’s first annual Go Green Project Day was a success! On Sunday, April 5, nearly 40 4-H participants came to experience an afternoon full of hands-on, educational, and fun class sessions that were designed to increase their awareness of being environmentally friendly. Class sessions included learning how to make a rug out of old T-Shirts, turning old crayons into candles, discovering new ways to irrigate a garden, and growing container plants to sell at the Farmer’s Market. Feel free to browse some pictures from the event below. If you’d like to leave any feedback about the Go Green Project Day or tips on how it could be improved in the coming years, please leave us a note in the comment section. Thanks to all our participants, parents, and class leaders for making this day a success!

Broccoli Pests

Two early pests have been cold weather and deer. The best protection from both is the use of a floating row cover. This barrier fabric is available from garden centers or mail-order. Broccoli is cold hardy, I'm more interested in faster growth with the cover. The raised bed was full of deer tracks except where the row cover was.

Freeze Protection

Anytime there is a weather forecast for a hard freeze, we can cover our plants to provide some protection. If the sky is overcast and rainy there is less chance of cold weather than if it is clear. If you have seedling plants that are just emerging or half-hardy transplants, you may want to consider covering them overnight. Place covers such as blankets, boxes or plastic (not touching the plants if possible) over the area late in the day. Windy conditions may blow covers off so anchor them down thoroughly. Dont be concerned with seedlings that have not emerged or potatoes underground. They will be fine. Click on the link and go to page 2 of the this publication for information on how freeze hardy different vegetables are.
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf315.pdf

Broccoli

Broccoli is good for you and will more likely get eaten when grown at home. Fortunately, everyone in our family will eat broccoli. Now is the time to get the spring crop planted. It can also be planted in early August for a fall harvest.
This is one of my favorite vegetable crops to grow because it is very productive. After the main head is harvested, it will continue to produce side heads that can be harvested. Use wide spacing of up to 3 feet if you want to harvest large central heads. Closer spacing will produce smaller central heads. But if you harvest secondary heads you will get a greater total yield from the closer spacing.
Select short and stocky broccoli plants that have four or five true leaves for planting. Larger, older transplants are more likely to bolt when exposed to cool temperatures in the garden. Some cultivars will form small “button” heads when the weather turns warm following a 10 day stretch when high temperatures only reach the 40s F.
At transplanting, use a cup of liquid fertilizer that contains phosphorus to get them off to a quick start. Too much nitrogen fertilizer may cause hollow stems.
Plants have shallow roots. Use mulch or hand weeding verse cultivation. They like moist and well-drained soil. Give the crop one inch of water per week when rainfall is lacking. Be particularly generous with water as the head starts to develop.
Fertilizer applied will produce a large plant and a larger head. Sprinkle additional fertilizer after planting along the row every 2-3 weeks as the crop develops. Well manured gardens or soil with added compost will need less added fertilizer.
Full sun is best for quick growth. It will grow in part sun but will take longer to mature. Green Comet is the quickest at around 40 days. Packman takes 50 to 73 days. Premium Crop is a long one at 62 to 82 days.
The imported cabbage worm and occasionally the cabbage looper will want their share of the harvest. You can observe these caterpillars feeding on the underside of the leaves and in the broccoli head. Several insecticides can be used such as Bacillus thuringiensis or spinosad. I use a barrier called a floating row cover to keep the butterflies from being able to lay their eggs.
Planting now, one can expect to begin harvesting in mid to late June and July. Harvest the florets when they are tight and have a good green color. Once the buds start to open and yellow appears, it is getting late for harvest.

On Your Mark; Get Set -- GREEN!

The 2009 Riley County Fair will sport the theme of Green. Save your green by attending this family event July 23-27, at CiCo Park, in Manhattan. Share your talents (arts, foods, plants, photography, clothing, quilts and the like) in the Open Class divisions. Ride the carnival in the summer sun. Cheer on your favorite parade entry on July 23. Taste fair favorites from funnel cakes to corn on the cob and more. View projects by local youth and hang out with your friends and family. One thing is certain - plan to save your "green" by visiting the fair!

Positive Discipline for All Ages

The word "discipline" often comes with a negative connotation. In reality, discipline is simply a teaching tool to model and praise good behavior. When done properly, discipline teaches our children self-control and helps them to start setting their own limits and develop their own morals and inhibitions. Discipline should not be a tool to enforce power or make a child feel inferior. The number one thing to remember about discipline is to stay POSITIVE! Don’t just punish bad behaviors; model and praise good behaviors and teach the proper or alternative behavior to a misbehavior.

Children of different ages respond to discipline techniques differently. Therefore, it is important to mold your discipline style to fit your child's age. You can’t tell a newborn to “stop crying because it hurts my ears” because obviously the child cannot understand the language. The following is a simple list of discipline tips and techniques that can be used at varying ages. Keep in mind that all children are different, have different temperaments, and grow and mature in different ways. What works for one child may not work for the next. Patience, practice, and perseverance are key to developing more positive discipline tactics.

Birth – 18 months
-Infants cannot obey or disobey their parents/caregivers.
-No discipline is needed at this age, instead, focus on developing a warm relationship with the child.
-Praise the baby with hugs, smiles, attention, and time
-Ignore minor misbehaviors that are not issues of safety.
-Prevent many problems from occurring by baby-proofing the home.
-Always model and teach behaviors that you feel are appropriate.

18 months – 2 years
-Toddlers still don’t easily obey commands.
-If child is doing something you wish to stop, try distraction techniques.
-Get the child’s attention by doing things the child likes and will engage in sharing behaviors.
-Using reasoning and talking to a toddler usually doesn’t work.
-Rearrange your environment (remove objects that could cause problems) to avoid problems.

2-4 years
-Children of this age start to develop strong routines and natural tendencies – work with these tendencies if possible.
-Avoid giving complex choices.
-Do not expect children of this age to wait for things or easily share with others.
-Praise good behaviors and continue modeling acceptable behavior.
-Use distraction techniques to change the subject or get them interested in something else.
-Use a child’s natural tendencies – for example, if a child loves to climb, but is always getting in trouble for climbing on the furniture, take him/her to the park and let him/her climb all he/she wants with your supervision.
-Make sure the limits and boundaries you set are reasonable for the age and maturity of the child.

4-6 years
-Continue praise and compliments for good behaviors.
-Whispering is sometimes an effective tool.
-Keep few rules, but be rigid when enforcing them. Make sure your rules have meaning and specific consequences, and make sure your children are aware of them.
-Many “bad” behaviors are simply immaturities. Be patient and remember your child is still maturing and learning.
-Avoid punishment (spanking, yelling, etc.) if at all possible. If you feel it is necessary, do so calmly and after you have cooled down - NEVER punish out of anger!

6-11 years
-Prevent problems before they happen to avoid having to punish.
-Continue praise and compliments for good behavior.
-Allow children of this age the freedom to make simple choices and feel independent.
-Allow children to fail (as long as failing isn’t an issue of safety or extreme danger), but support them through it.
-Show your child the natural and logical consequences of their actions – for example – “If you go outside in the snow with no gloves on, your hands will get cold” is a natural consequence. “We do not eat dinner without washing our hands, so you won’t be able to eat with us until your hands are washed” is a logical consequence. Make sure your rules have consequences that make sense.
-If a child is expected to do chores, tell him/her about them in advance, then remind the child before he/she forgets.
-Save using direct commands for important things.
-Motivate the child with time, attention, and approval.
-Allow for some independence, but make sure your expectations are not beyond your child’s maturity level.

Teenage years
-Pay attention to your body language and tone when talking with your teen. Keep your tone friendly and not demeaning. Try to talk with your teen, not at your teen.
-Allow your teen to fail and use those times to teach valuable lessons and discuss what went wrong. Do not place blame for failure, but use it as a discussion topic.
-Make your teen feel included by allowing them to have a reasonable say in curfews, rules, decisions, and guidelines. Make discussions about rules be a conversation and listen to your teen’s point of view.
-Rules should be logical, explained, and make sense to your teen.
-Listen to your teen and validate their ideas, even if you don’t agree with them.
-Go easy on initial offenses. Use these times to explain why they were wrong, and discuss ways to improve in the future.

Stay tuned for more discipline and behavior-management tips in later blog posts!

Be sure to check out this resource from The University of Maine Cooperative Extension relating to discipline through different ages.
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4140.htm

"Endless Possibilities"

Imagine having the life of a college student. Attend interesting classes, take part in tours and off-campus field trips, experience life in the residence halls and try out campus entertainment. This mini-college experience happens during Discovery Days!

Youth age 13 through 18 are invited to participate in this year's conference, to be held at Kansas State University, June 2-5. Attend classes on animal science, cooking, golf, horse judging, environment, dancing, art, engineering and much more. Last year's event brought over 600 youth together from across the state of Kansas! This event certainly has "endless opportunities" for growth this year too!

In order to get your favorite classes, register EARLY. Registration is due April 15, but register sooner to have the best class selection. Visit http://www.kansas4h.org/Events/DiscoveryDays/Default.htm to check out the class catalog and to learn more about this awesome opportunity. Register online, and find out immediately if you got your favorite classes at https://4hyp-ts.oznet.ksu.edu/wconnect/ace/home.htm

Have you attended Discovery Days in the past? If so, share your favorite part about Discovery Days in the comment section below. See you there!

Summer 4-H Camp

Camp sounds so inviting, especially since the current temperatures have been in the 30's! Riley County 4-H members, and friends, will be visiting Rock Springs 4-H Center, June 6-9, for 4-H Camp. Youth in grades 2nd-7th are invited to participate as campers.

Campers will ride the trail horses, design their own t-shirt, try archery, swim, explore the Flint Hills nature, karaoke, take on the leadership adventure course, canoe, perform in skits and much more. Our theme this year is "Be Creative!" We will explore art, music, drama and much, much more. Campers will also have the chance to try Zumba!

Rock Springs will be our home for the camp experience. We will join youth from Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties for the camp adventure. Campers will be grouped by 8 per room, with two teen counselors. We will live in cabins or tents, and eat meals together in a family-style setting, at Williams Dining Hall.

One of my favorite things about camp is the Campfire. After it has gotten dark, we will all gather around the camp fire to sing songs, tell stories and share laughs. Counselors will lead us in the games and activities. The best camp memories always involve a song.

Camp is definitely something you won't want to miss. I am excited already to eat my favorite snack -- frozen lemonade at the snack bar and get goosebumps as we raise our nation's flag and 4-H flag each day.

Visit http://www.riley.ksu.edu/ to get your camp registration copy. You can also register and pay online at this site too.

Are you ready for some creative fun? See you at camp!

Restaurant Food at Home for Less: Bruschetta

After being inspired by a recent anniversary dinner at a fancy restaurant, I decided to try recreating one of my favorite appetizers – bruschetta.

Bruschetta is an appetizer that originated in Italy. It consists of a small piece of toasted or grilled bread that is rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, salt, pepper, or other seasonings. American bruschetta is also commonly topped with cheese, basil, and tomatoes.

The bruschetta I copied is a version of the common cheese/tomato appetizer. I had a lot to go from since the menu at the restaurant informed me that the bruschetta topping was made from goat cheese with a marinade of olives and balsamic vinegar. On the side were diced tomatoes with basil seasoning. The dish I came up with tasted almost exactly like the restaurant dish, and cost much less!

Ingredients:
Bread for grilling or toasting – French or Italian
Small portion of Goat cheese (I found goat cheese with basil mixed in already, or you can mix in your own)
Basil
6-7 Green olives
1 can Diced tomatoes
1 tsp. Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Olive Oil
1 clove Garlic (you can also use garlic salt)

Method:
Mince a handful of green olives (about 6-7) and place in a small bowl. You can use a food processor for a finer mince. Drizzle the olives with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Mix well.
In another bowl, combine diced tomatoes (canned or fresh) with about 3 tsp. basil and mix.
Slice bread at an angle and place on a clean surface to prepare for seasoning.
Rub with a smashed clove of garlic, or sprinkle with garlic salt. Drizzle both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, and basil. For authentic bruschetta, grill the bread pieces on a grill. You can get a smiliar effect from using an electric kitchen grill as shown below. You can also broil for several minutes on each side until bread is golden brown, use a toaster oven, or a hot regular oven to toast the bread.
To serve:
Roll cheese into a ball and create a cylinder shape. Place cheese on appetizer plate. Spoon a thin layer of olive mixture onto the top of cheese cylinder. Place a small amount of tomato/basil mixture around the cheese and arrange toasted bread on the outside of the plate.
When ready to eat, spread cheese/olives onto toast and top with tomatoes. Enjoy!
Restaurant bruschetta: $14 (!)
My home-made similar bruschetta: $5
Total savings: $9