A Great Untapped Resource

When working as a Master Gardener for the Cooperative Extension Service at public events, I am amazed at how many people do not know about the rich, untapped resource of their local county extension service.  Some, like me have childhood memories of mothers attending extension service club meetings, being involved in a local 4-H club, and extended family members entering lambs in the county fair.  However, many do not realize the practical information and the resources the Cooperative Extension Service provides and makes available to the public through individual counties.

            You may be asking what exactly the extension service is and what resources it provides?  The

inception of the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service goes back more than 100 years. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 established informal education for agriculture and  rural businesses, thus creating an extension of learning through the land grant college system already set up in 1862, and fully funded in 1890.  Land grant colleges were colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts set up by individual states from proceeds of land sales that the federal government made available in those states.  For example, in Idaho, the land grant college was established in Moscow in 1889 and was named the University of Idaho.  It was the only university in Idaho until 1963.

            The Smith-Lever Act extended research-based education from these land grant colleges to the public in a more informal manner. Research-based information and print material was made available to farmers and ranchers, consumers, and families. Currently the U of I Cooperative Extension Service website demonstrates the diversity of information dispersed by the lead caption which states; "Growing the garden of your dreams? Preserving foods safely? Learning sound financial practices? Practical education you can trust." 

            The Information Age has increased the variety of formats and venues in which education is provided and information is accessed. Information is easily accessed through print, digital, and electronic formats, as well as traditional teaching methods.  A variety interactive and hands-on activities, teaching practical life skills are provided to youth and adults alike. Many great websites are available on the Internet and Facebook, including U of I Cooperative Extension website and individual county extension websites.  Programs are offered to the public through the Master Gardener program, local community service groups, 4-H clubs,  and partnerships with other state organizations, such as Idaho Fish and Game.

            To learn more about the Cooperative Extension Service in Idaho and to access information please refer to the links below:

University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Service:

https://www.uidaho.edu/extension

http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/links.asp

Canyon County Extension Service

https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/canyon

https://211idaho.communityos.org/zf/profile/program/id/846011    

 The USDA Cooperative Extension Service

https://nifa.usda.gov/extension

The Smith-Lever Act

https://nifa.usda.gov/history+

Four Season Landscaping in the Treasure Valley

The gardening books emphasize the need for planning and designing.  Landscaping involves the combination of small flowering plants, bushes, trees, and non-animate objects like ponds, fountains, rock paths and structures, wooden structures, and miscellaneous art objects placed strategically around the property.  Obviously it is possible to have too much or too little, therefore the necessity to plan and design the appearance of the property.

Generally the majority of the space will be in grass.  I need to deal with areas of full sun and almost full shade with moss. I have determined to aerate in early spring, change the watering pattern, and seed some areas with shade grass. 

Then it is necessary to plan the layout of the garden areas considering the location of vegetables, flower beds, shrubs, trees, and man-made structures like trellises, ponds, rock work, and paths.

Spring

·       If the mulch that you applied in fall consists of a coarse material, such as large, unshredded leaves, or if the mulch tends to mat down over time and form a barrier, then you should generally remove that layer of mulch in spring at a time when the threat of severe cold has passed (https://www.thespruce.com/spring-landscape-maintenance-tips-2130818)

·       Rake lawn, deeply, to remove thatch and snow mold

·       Get rid of moss.  The potential causes and solutions are:

o    Cause:  Low soil pH.  Solution:  Raise pH

o    Cause:  Lack of necessary nutrients in the soil.  Solution:  Addition of nutrients indicated by soil test

o    Cause:  Poor drainage.  Solution:  Change watering schedule

o    Cause:  Excessive shade.  Solution:  Plant shade grass.

o     

·       Aeration if soil is compacted

·       Decide on location and types of vegetables and fruits to be grown

·       The early spring flowers are very colorful but don’t last long:

o    Daffodils, iris, tulips, lilies, forsythia, lilacs

o    The bulb flowers can be interspersed with annuals like pansies

·       The heavily shaded areas are planted in hosta with some other shade perennials

·       Hanging baskets are planted with a variety of flowers and yams that will last through the fall

Summer

·       Summer Flowers

o    The beds are planted in perennials, i.e. catoneasters, with a great variety of colors

o    The box  (4’ x 4’) is planted with annuals and the choice changes each year

Fall

·       The summer flowers are those that continue blooming into the fall

·       Lawn:  fertilize in late fall (November)

·       Rake leaves (1/2” deep for dethatching)

·       Mulching for perennials.  Leaves and pine needles are left in the hostas.

Winter

·       Keep it clean and neat

·       Evergreens can provide some color other than brown and the fruit of some bushes, e.g. Oregon grape and holly can provide other color. 

·       http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/so-many-cabbages-so-little-time  this website describes how winter cabbage can be grown.  This would be an interesting addition to a winter garden.