Severe infestation of spider mites will eventually kill the leaves on tomato plants, reducing the vigor of the plant and the number and quality of fruit produced. Can you identify a spider mite on your tomato plant?
For more information watch this Kansas Healthy Yards Video – https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/spider-mites-on-tomatoes
By: Cassie Thiessen
Hot weather makes it harder for the body to regulate its temperature. It can also be challenging for older adults, who typically do not adjust as well as others to sudden temperature changes.
Older adults are at higher risk for heat-related illness. Factors that put older adults at greater risk may include:
Things you can do to lower the risk of heat related illness:
By: Brenda Langdon
Although mornings can be busy, making time for breakfast is important, especially for children and teens. Eating within 1-2 hours of getting up in the morning helps to break the fast from the night before, and sets children and teens up for success throughout the day. Ideally, a breakfast meal includes foods from at least three food groups (a protein or dairy, a fruit or vegetable, and a whole grain) from MyPlate, as well as being low in added sugars, salt, and saturated fat.
Here are few breaking-the-fast tips:
Source: University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension
By: Jamie Rathbun
Extension Master Gardeners come from a variety of backgrounds and share a passion for gardening, an enthusiasm for learning, and a commitment to helping others. Master Gardeners have successfully completed basic training in the discipline of horticulture and they share their time and expertise as volunteers in their community to promote Post Rock Extension District’s educational mission.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please reach out to Cassie at cthiessen@ksu.edu or 785-738-3597.
Learn more here: https://www.postrock.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/master-gardner/index.html
At any age, illness or injury may cause the loss of a patient’s ability to make decisions. With “advance directives”, you can provide directions for your own medical care, in advance of a time when such instructions are necessary. Advance directives are legal forms that allow you to voice your wishes regarding future medical care and treatment in the event you become unable to do so for yourself.
Advance directives include:
Living Wills – an instruction list to your physician, family and friends about the preferences you have regarding life-sustaining care or end of life care.
Health Care Power of Attorney – this document names a person to speak for you on your behalf. They can decide what treatment you will receive in addition to where and who is treating you. A durable power of attorney for health care is only effective after you have lost your capacity to make or communicate decisions.
Pre-Hospital DNR – states that you do not want to have resuscitation attempted, should you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. This document is not for everyone and is generally only recommended for terminally ill or incredibly frail individuals.
It is crucial that you store your documents in accessible places. Always keep a copy in your house – a great place is to store it on your refrigerator. You should store a copy in your vehicle, such as in the glove box. It is also wise to give copies to family and close friends. Think about who would come to the hospital if something were to happen to you.
By: Brenda Langdon
As school starts, it’s time to thinking about nutrition and food safety for school lunch. If you pack lunch for your child, keep these tips in mind:
Source: Iowa State University Extension
By: Jamie Rathbun
Canning your own garden produce or farmer’s market purchase can be rewarding and a great way to save your food for later use.
Food preservation recommendations have been updated. If you are new to canning, are using recipes that are more than 5 years old, or haven’t canned in a few years, it is important to start out by getting educating yourself on preserving food safely to prevent foodborne illness.
For canning fruits, pickles, jams, jellies, and most tomato products, a water bath canner or large stock pot with a lid and rack is needed. Water bath canners have fitted lids and removable perforated or shaped wire racks. The canner must be deep enough that at least one or two inches of briskly boiling water covers the tops of jars during the entire water bath processing.
For canning plain vegetables, some tomato products, and all meats, a pressure canner is needed. Today’s pressure canners may have a weighted gauge or a dial gauge for indicating and regulating pressure. Dial gauges should be checked for accuracy once per year.
With either method of canning, always read the manufacturer’s instructions before canning any food. Be aware that some canners cannot be used on glass stovetops.
Learn more about water bath and pressure canning at www.rrc.k-state.edu/preservation.
If you have questions about canning safely, need trusted canning recipes, or would like to have your pressure canning dial gauge checked for accuracy contact Jamie Rathbun, 785-524-4432 or jrathbun@ksu.edu.
By: Jamie Rathbun
