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!