Mark your calendars for K-State Research and Extension’s annual health initiative, Walk Kansas! This motivating, team based 8-week challenge will be held from March 18th– May 12th 2018. More d
etails will come, but there’s no better time than the present to put yourself-and your health first! You can start now by talking with coworkers, friends, and family to gather your team.
Visit the Post Rock District Walk Kansas page for program details.
By: Ashley Svaty
Deer can cause serious damage to newly planted seedlings and young trees. When they browse the buds, they reduce growth rates, nipping the tree at the base can create multiple stemmed trees, and bucks rubbing their antlers on stems can kill the tree entirely.
Follow these tips from the Kansas Forest Service, to protect your young trees.
http://www.kansasforests.org/conservation_trees/careandtips/deer.html
By: Cassie Homan
So you saved your tomato crop in the freezer. Can those frozen tomatoes be canned?
It is not recommended to can tomatoes that froze on the vine. This is because the acid content changes too much making them unsafe for canning. But tomatoes harvested prior to a fall freeze, then frozen, do not change in acidity. What does change is their texture and how they measure.
The best choice for canning previously frozen tomatoes is to make a well cooked product such as a stewed or crushed tomato product, or made into tomato juice or sauce.
It is not recommended to can them whole or quartered. They will pack into the jars differently, absorb moisture differently, and the heat transfers through the jars differently. This could lead to underprocessing and spoilage. Tomato canning recipes are based on fresh tomatoes.
Source: University of Georgia
From the December issue of You Asked It! To access the full issue please click here
By: Ashley Svaty
We’ve all dealt with a friend, child, family member, or co-worker who has a behavior or attitude that drives you crazy. Sometimes these behaviors and attitudes break policy or laws while other times they just bring negativity into the environment. Simply ignoring these annoyances is not the answer, especially if they reoccur on a regular basis. Addressing differences can be stressful, yet not addressing them can result in unproductive work environments, strained relationships, and many bad moods.
How you address behaviors and attitudes that ‘push your buttons’ is very important in gaining the outcomes you desire. Blaming language brings out defense mechanisms, often steering the conversation away from the concern. Avoid using the word “you”. “You” statements accuse actions, ideas, and people to be in the wrong. Blaming language not only takes longer to reach a resolution, it rarely makes a relationship stronger through the process.
Instead, use “I” statements. “I” statements keep your responses focused on how the concern affects you. Meanwhile, the other party will feel invited to explain how they are affected by the concern. “I” statements seek to understand and respect both party’s opinions and experiences. These types of conversations may provide values clarification, likely pointing towards a compromise that will benefit everyone.
Communicate with “I” Statements
By: Nora Rhoades
