Category: August 2017

Food Preservation Workshop August 9th

Ashley Svaty
Nutrition, Food Safety
and Health Agent

Join us for a full day of hands on food preservation!  This workshop is for beginners and experienced canners who are wanting to brush up on current methods.  Participants will gain experience water bath & pressure canning, preserving their own salsa, vegetables, jams &jellies, and drying herbs!  Lunch will be provided and door prizes will be awarded throughout the day, you won’t want to miss this.

The workshop will be held at the Cawker City United Methodist.  Registration is due August 2nd along with $25 registration fee.  A minimum of 10 participants required to hold the workshop.  Please call (785) 524-4432 for more information.

Food Preservation Workshop flier is available here

By:  Ashley Svaty

Strength Training Class Coming to Lincoln

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is an evidence-based program to help individuals learn basic balance and strength-training exercises.  All equipment is provided.  This is a great opportunity to take better care of your health and join others in our community for this fun program!

Two classes will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:00-3:00 or 3:30-4:30 at the Lincoln Senior Center. The program will run from August 14th-October 11th. Registration for this program is $20 and is due August 9th to reserve your spot.  Please contact the Lincoln office at (785) 524-4432 for program details.

Stay Strong, Stay Healthy flier is available here

By:  Ashley Svaty

Farm Succession Planning Seminar in Lincoln

Nora Rhoades
Family and Youth
Development Agent

August 22, 2017

10:00am to 3:00pm

The Post Rock District is hosting a one-day Farm Succession Planning Seminar! The featured speakers will provide resources, tools, and insight related to: steps to keep the family farming, farm and rural business succession planning, strategies to maintain strong relationships and leaving a legacy through the family farm. The seminar will also include a question and answer panel with nationally and state recognized experts. For details and registration information visit www.postrock.ksu.edu.

By:  Nora Rhoades

Is My Lawn Still Alive?

Normally, a healthy lawn can stay dormant for a good 5 weeks and still recover. After the five weeks are up, it is important to keep the crown hydrated because if the crown dies, the plant dies.

The recommendations differ for a lawn that was over watered or received so much rain this spring so that it produced a limited root system. Such a lawn may die unless allowed to slowly enter dormancy. This is done by shutting off the water gradually. For example, instead of watering several times a week, wait a week before irrigating. Then don’t water again for two weeks. Thereafter, water every two weeks as described below.

Cassie Homan
Horticulture Agent

Apply about 1/4 inch of water every two weeks to hydrate the crown. This will be enough to hydrate the crown but not enough to encourage weed germination and growth.

If you are wondering if the turf is still alive, pull up an individual plant and separate the leaves from the crown. The crown is the area between the leaves and the roots. If it is still hard and not papery and dry, the plant is still alive. When rains and cooler weather arrive, the turf should come out of dormancy. However, we will probably have to deal with weeds that germinate before the turfgrass grows enough to canopy over and provide enough shade to keep weed seeds from sprouting.

Use this ‘Lawn Problem Solver’ to find a solution for your home:
http://www.k-state.edu/turf/resources/lawn-problem-solver/index.html

By: Cassie Homan

It’s Back to School Time!

Pack the book bags and pack the lunch! It’s time to head back to school! Help get your child to eat the lunch you packed with these tips:

  • Have them help choose foods at the store they like. They can also help pack their lunch.
  • If lunch time is short, pack bite sized foods. Cut sandwiches in fourths to grab easier. Pack grapes, string cheese, and whole wheat crackers.
  • Use easy open lunch bags and insulated bags with ice packs to keep cold foods cold.
  • Pack smaller portions so they don’t waste food. Keep nutrition in mind to give them good fuel on the go!

Source: www.eatright.org/resource/food/nutrition/eat-right-at-school/my-child-doesnt-eat-the-lunch-i-pack-what-do-i-do

By:  Ashley Svaty

Solving Your Garden Problems

Is your garden struggling to do well in this hot, dry weather we have had lately? Extended periods of high temperatures, like the 100 degree weeks we have seen, can really take a toll on our gardens. The most important thing you can do is keep everything watered, you don’t want your plants heat and water stressed. Tomatoes tend to be one of the pickiest vegetables, and even stop producing fruit, because of lack of pollination, when night temperature remain above 75 degrees.

For more information on common tomato troubles: http://postrockextension.blogspot.com/2017/07/blossom-end-rot-of-tomatoes_21.html

By: Cassie Homan