January is the perfect time to start making a garden wish list and planning for spring. K-State Research and Extension has several lists of plants that are proven to do well in our unpredictable Kansas climate. From trees, shrubs, to vegetables, make sure to check out these recommendations before hitting up the garden center.
Recommended Plants for Kansas: https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/recommended-plants/
By: Cassie Thiessen
While you don’t want to run out of food, think about what you will do with the leftovers. When meal planning and making your grocery list, consider altering the recipe to avoid leftovers if they will go to waste. In almost 32% of average households that leftover food, along with forgotten food, is wasted. Residential homes make up 37.2% of all surplus food wasted.
During the height of the pandemic, consumers wasted less food. Now that we have resumed many normal activities, that amount of waste has surged. To combat food waste, try going back to basic consumer skills. Take a look at your kitchen management plan. Look at what is in your refrigerator and cabinets before going to the grocery store. Create a meal plan to utilize what you have before you buy more food. Make a shopping list before going to the grocery store. Preparing meals at home can help reduce food waste. Freeze leftovers to use later.
By: Brenda Langdon
