WVU Extension Service | Noteworthy News

3 Feb

(The Inter-Mountain) The yearly gardening calendars compiled by the West Virginia University Extension Service are always packed with tons of helpful hints including when to fertilize, plant and prune. This year’s edition includes original garden artwork submitted by 4-Hers from all over West Virginia.

Ann Bailey Berry, WVU Extension associate director for advancement, said the group that picks the design for the calendars meet in March. Last year, the group decided to take the suggestion of Jennifer Williams and add pictures designed by 4-Hers to the calendar.

“Jennifer had made the suggestion for a couple of years, so we accelerated the time line and added the original artwork,” Berry said. “We sent kits to each of the county camps that had paper and writing instruments because the pictures all had to be uniform.”

3 Feb

(WVNS-TV) A newly updated map released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture might change the way some people in West Virginia plan their gardens this spring.

The so-called Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a breakdown of annual minimum temperature averages that occur over several decades. The map was last updated over 20 years ago, in 1990.

In the new update, several locations in West Virginia are now classified as “Zone 7a,” which means gardeners may be able to raise new varieties of plants that require slightly warmer temperatures than were previously experienced.

However, Extension Agent David Richmond cautions that most of the changes in the new map will not make drastic changes to the way people plan their gardens.

23 Jan

(The Register Herald) Gardening is a time-honored tradition for many West Virginia families. Not only does it provide a great opportunity for kids to learn about math and science in their own backyards, but it can also bring families closer together.

The 2012 WVU Extension Service Garden Calendar is designed with this in mind.

Throughout the year, gardeners will explore “Kids’ Gardening Adventures,” in the 2012 calendar.It includes gardening articles written by WVU Extension experts with youth in mind. This year’s calendar also exhibits exclusive artwork designed by West Virginia 4-Hers.

The free garden calendar, WVU Extension Service’s most-requested publication, is now available at all county offices of the WVU Extension Service. Viewers can also download and print a copy by visiting www.ext.wvu.edu.

23 Jan

(The Register Herald) WVU extension agent shares knowledge of love’s exchange table

Every graduate to solid food knows you can’t pour vegetable oil in a car’s gas tank and get very far (without a tow-truck). You can’t deposit IOUs into your checking account and spend off into blissful ignorance.

Yet, daily in our relationships, we start our engines down our respective roads, sending our partners off, tanks half-filled by fuel they can’t respond to. Likewise, we endorse checks of unrecognizable currency we’ve received from our partners, expecting to deposit them into our empty accounts and be filled.

Terrill Peck, WVU Extension agent, has become an expert on love’s exchange table. She knows the highest-octane relationships are those where there’s an understanding of each other’s love language and where that love is spoken fluently.

19 Jan

(News Tribune) A free class, “Eat Smart and Diabetes,” will be offered on Monday, Jan. 23, from 1-2 p.m. at the Mineral County Health Department.

This is part of the “Take Charge of Your Health and Safety” program sponsored by the WVU Extension Ser ice and Mineral County Family Resource Network, with the support of the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

Register by Friday, Jan. 20, by calling 304-788-3621.

19 Jan

(News and Sentinel) The 2012 weekly Wood County Farmers’ Short Course begins 7 p.m. Thursday and runs through March in the Fort Boreman room of the Judge Black Courthouse Annex at 315 Market St.

All meetings are 7 p.m. Thursdays and are free and open to the public.

“The Farmers’ Short Course is a great educational opportunity for local farmers, gardeners and anyone interested in agriculture here in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” said J.J. Barrett, West Virginia University agriculture extension agent. “WVU Extension Service strives to provide research based information to local citizens. The short course is also a great way for farmers to network and exchange ideas.”

29 Dec

(Tyler Star News) Gardening is a time-honored tradition for many West Virginia families Not only does it provide a great opportunity for kids to learn about math and science in their own back yards, it can also bring families closer together. The 2012 WVU Extension Service Garden Calendar is designed with this in mind.

Throughout the year gardeners will explore “Kids Gardening Adventure” in the 2012 calendar. It includes gardening articles written by WVU Extension experts with youth in mind. This year’s calendar also exhibits exclusive artwork designed by West Virginia 4-H’ers.

12 Dec

(Mountain Statesman) Jenny Murray, of the West Virginia University Extension Office, was in attendance at the Taylor County Board of Education (BOE) regular meeting on Tuesday, December 6, to offer a special recognition. The Taylor County Board of Education has been named the 2011 Friend of 4-H.

“Without the help of people outside our 4-H organization, we would not be able to accomplish the things we do as a program,” Murray stated. “We consider those, who are not volunteers or leaders, a Friend of 4-H. A Friend of 4-H gives of their time and resources, often without being asked. This year, we would like to recognize the Taylor County Board of Education as our Friend of 4-H.”

2 Dec

(The Republic) AmeriCorps is recruiting mentors and community coordinators to work with a summer program that helps 3,000 West Virginia children maintain and improve reading skills.

Energy Express is an 8-week program offered in rural and low-income communities. It’s run by AmeriCorps and the West Virginia University Extension Service. It also provides children with good nutrition.

Mentors are college or college-bound students willing to help children study reading, writing, art and drama. They also make family visits and complete a community service project.

2 Dec

(News Tribune) The Mineral County 4-H Livestock Judging Team represented West Virginia at 2011 North American International Livestock Exposition held in Louisville, Ky., this month and earned a fourth place overall in the nation in the 4-H Livestock Skillathon contest.

This was the first year that West Virginia sent a team to the Skillathon Contest.