MGV

Don’t Guess, Soil Test!

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

How did your garden do this year?  Was your tomato yield down? Did your green beans do as well as you wanted? Maybe it’s time to do a soil test!

According to OSUE Fact Sheet HYG-1132, Soil testing is an excellent investment for garden, lawn, landscape plants, and commercial crops. It is a very inexpensive way of maintaining good plant health and maximum crop productivity. The standard soil test provides the status of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), pH, cation exchange capacity, lime requirement index, and base saturations. Additional tests are also available for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), soluble salts, nitrates, and organic matter content. With a representative soil sample and an accurate test, sound fertilizer recommendations can help gardeners and growers improve plant quality and productivity, and save money, too!

The soil test takes the guesswork out of fertilization and is extremely cost effective. It not only eliminates the waste of money spent on unnecessary fertilizers but also eliminates over-usage of fertilizers, hence helping to protect the environment.

Soil samples can be taken in the spring or fall for established sites. For new sites, soil samples can be taken anytime when the soil is workable. Most people conduct their soil tests in the spring. However, autumn can also be a great time to take soil tests if one wants to avoid the spring rush and suspects a soil pH problem. Fall soil testing will allow you ample time to apply lime to raise the soil pH. Sulfur should be applied in the spring if the soil pH needs to be lowered.

A soil tests every two to three years is usually adequate. Sample more frequently if you desire a closer monitoring of the fertility levels, or if you grow plants that are known to be heavy feeders.

A soil sample is best taken with a soil probe or an auger. However, a spade, knife, or trowel can also be used to take thin slices or sections of soil. Soils should be collected in a clean plastic pail or box.

Gardeners, homeowners, landscapers, growers, farmers, and all other interested parties should contact their local OSU Extension office to find out the scope of services in each county, if they have questions about soil testing. See http://extension.osu.edu/counties.phpfor a list of OSU Extension offices, their contact information, and services that each office offers.

Interested in learning more about soils and soil testing? Mark your calendar and plan to attend our garden seminar on Thursday, February 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mt. Orab campus of Southern State Community College. James Morris, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator and Community Development Educator for Brown County OSU Extension, will talk about soils as well as soil testing. Remember that all seminars are free and open to the public and are held in Room 208. Please remember that in case of wintry weather, you should check SSCC’s website, www.sscc.edu, or call 937-444-7722, for any campus closures. If the campus is closed, the seminar will be canceled and rescheduled.

Dreaming about your garden? Ordering seeds? It’s time to think about the health of your soil!

 

Planning a Tea Garden While the Snow Flies

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

One of my childhood friends had a very special grandmother that we lovingly called “Grandma T.” She would have a special tea party for my friend’s birthday each year and we each took home a teacup and saucer as a party favor. She provided a variety of white gloves, hats, jewelry, dresses and shoes for us to complete the tea party experience. We felt so special as we sipped hot tea and enjoyed delicious tea sandwiches!

Grandma T’s teacups and saucers are displayed on a shelf in my home and I now drink tea from a mug, but I still remember how much fun we had at those tea parties. As the snow was flying this weekend, I came across a great article about growing your own tea garden. Herbs for tea are easy to grow, look stunning in flower or garden beds and smell amazing. According to blogger, Getty Stewart, whether you have a single pot in a sunny window, a balcony or patio planter, or a large garden, she recommends trying to grow herbs for tea.

Her nine favorite herbs for tea include:

  1. Giant Hyssop(Agastache foeniculum) Easy to grow, attractive to pollinators and a native North American prairie species. It is quite drought tolerant and will come back year after year despite long cold winters.
  2. German Chamomile(Matricaria recutita) Chamomile is a must have for any tea garden. Dainty daisy-like flowers grow on lacy, feathery leaves. The flavor is quite unique.
  3. Mint-Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, Apple, Orange, Strawberry or Grapefruit Mint, and Mojito Mint. Caution: Mint makes delicious tea but can be invasive if not contained in the garden! I grow my mints in large pots on the deck.
  4. Lemon Grass(Cymbopogon) Use Lemon Grass as a tall grassy centerpiece in large planters. The long grassy blades are perfect for tea.
  5. Lemon Balm(Melissa officinalis) This aggressive member of the mint family has been banished to a large container on my deck. It nearly consumed my herb bed by the porch! It has a refreshing lemony scent and flavor and is good for hot or cold tea
  6. Lemon Verbena(Aloysia citrodora) This perennial tropical shrub won’t survive anything cooler than Zone 8, so it may be a challenge to find locally. It grows quickly in hot summers, but you will need to keep it indoors over the winter.
  7. Borage(Borago officianalis) With its stunning edible flowers and ability to attract pollinators, borage is a must in any garden! The flowers and leaves taste remarkably like cucumbers.
  8. Lemon Thyme(Thymus citriodorus) Many savory herbs like Rosemary, Sage and Parsley make excellent tea. Lemon Thyme has a light lemony flavor
  9. Stevia(Stevia Rebaudiana) Stevia makes a fantastic sweetener for any tea. Stevia is super sweet and just a tiny bit will sweeten an entire tea pot.

Stewart also provides a word of caution when consuming herbal teas. All plants have properties in them that may cause allergies or undesirable side effects if taken in large doses. Be sure to do your research! There are great resources available to learn more about harvesting herbs and brewing herbal teas.

I love my coffee in the morning, but a mug of tea in the evening hits the spot! I am headed to the kitchen to brew up some ginger tea right now and browse through another seed catalog.

 

 

Why Should You Love Squirrels?

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Master Gardener Volunteer – Brown County

 

According to the Spring 2018 WOODLAND magazine there are 6 reasons why you should love squirrels! I am sure that you are thinking of all the reasons that you don’t feel love when it comes to those sometimes-pesky critters. My list might include: Pulls small transplants out of containers, digs and buries things in the containers, bullies the birds at the feeding station, and literally lounges on the railing of the deck and drinks out of my water garden!

Squirrels often get a bad rap. They raid bird feeders. They can chew through just about anything. They dart out in front of cars.

But, while sometimes inconvenient for humans, this oft-labeled “nuisance” animal has a lot to offer, according to a University of Florida researcher who studies squirrel ecology.

“Squirrels are some of the most visible wildlife in our modern urban and suburban settings, and they are a vital part of the ecosystems they inhabit”, said Robert McCleery, an associate professor in the department of wildlife ecology and conservation in the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

So, take a moment to learn what’s fun, interesting and mysterious about these fluffy-tailed creatures, says the author.

  1. They chew for a reason. They are chewing on things because they have incisors -front teeth-that are always growing. If they don’t chew on something, their teeth are going to grow into their lower jaw and skull. To avoid that, squirrels will chew on anything that helps wear down their teeth.
  2. They are nature’s gardeners. Squirrels have an important ecological role, especially in forest ecosystems. Their biggest contribution to the forest is in shaping plant composition. They have a peculiar habit of taking seeds, which are their main source of nutrients and burying them. Often when they go back to look for them, they forget where they are. When that happens, they are effectively planting seeds. Over time, this behavior, called caching, changes the composition of a forest.
  3. They have some zany behaviors that are entertaining to watch. If you see a squirrel rubbing its face on an acorn, that’s the squirrel marking the seed with its scent, increasing the chances it will find it later.
  4. They will tell you off. If you’re in your backyard or walking through a park, you might hear squirrels. “They make a rolling chirping noise,” McCleery says. As they make that noise, they may also rapidly flick their tails over their heads. All this is the squirrel’s way of saying, Back off! They might be scolding you because you are near a tree they’ve utilized or are near some food resource, or you’re perceived as a predator.
  5. There are many species of squirrel, and they come in lots of shapes, colors, and sizes. Ohio has four different species of squirrels. While most people are familiar with the Eastern Gray and Fox squirrels, Ohio is also home to Red and Flying squirrels. The Southern Flying Squirrel is Ohio’s most populous squirrel species, but since it is strictly nocturnal it is seldom seen. Flying squirrels get their name from the flaps of skin between their front and back legs. These flaps allow them to glide from one tree to the next.
  6. They are full of mystery. There is still so much that’s not known about squirrels, McCleery says. He never gets tired of studying them. One of the things they are trying to understand right now is why squirrels sometimes decide to eat a seed right away and other times decide to bury it.

My favorite squirrel incident happened while visiting a friend in Florida. Every morning we walked around the neighborhood and enjoyed seeing the bird feeding stations that had been “squirrel proofed.” As we came around the corner, we saw a large, plastic bird feeder with a large squirrel inside! When he saw us, he became as still as a statue, as if to say, “I am not a squirrel inside this bird feeder. Just look away! Mind your own business!”

Ring in 2019

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

As 2018 comes to a close, many individuals reflect on the past year and look forward to a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year in 2019. There are many traditions associated with the New Years celebrations across the globe. For example, did you know that Alud Lang Syne is a Scottish song?

One of my favorite traditions is to ring in the New Year with fireworks. While I enjoy fireworks displays on television, many individuals create their own backyard fireworks displays to enjoy with family and friends. Whether you enjoy the annual New Year celebrations from the comfort of your own home or by lighting your own fireworks displays, safety for both the individuals lighting the fireworks and for those watching the displays in-person are paramount to start the New Year off right.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says that sparklers burn at 1200 °F. In comparison, water boils at 212 °F and wood burns at 575 °F. “In 2013, sparklers caused 41 percent of fireworks injuries,” according to the NFPA. More than half of fireworks-related injuries are burns, but injuries can also include contusions, lacerations, foreign object in the eye and even death, according to the NFPA and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Hand and finger injuries account for 36 percent of fireworks injuries, followed by eye (19 percent), and head, face or ear injuries (19 percent) (NFPA, 2014).

According to Dr. Nicholas Kman and Andrea Whittaker, RN, of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, “fireworks-related injuries are the most common on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.” Kman and Whittaker recommend several tips to avoid being injured by fireworks:

  • “Never lean over fireworks when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance right after lighting them.
  • If you find unexploded fireworks, leave them be. Never try to relight or handle them. Soak them with water and throw them away.
  • Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby.
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, then move away from them quickly.
  • Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
  • After fireworks are done burning, douse with plenty of water before throwing them away to prevent a trash fire.
  • Do not experiment with homemade fireworks or fireworks made for professional displays (these will be packaged in brown paper).
  • Parents and caretakers should always closely supervise teens using fireworks.
  • Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
  • Only use fireworks outdoors” (Kman & Whittaker, 2018, p. 1).

If you are interested in learning more about fireworks safety or would like to become a certified pyrotechnician, Rozzi Fireworks will be holding an all-day training on April 27, 2018, at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. Registration will be available on their website, www.rozzifireworks.com, in mid-March. Celebrate the New Year responsibly and have a great start to 2019! For more information about upcoming Highland County Extension programs, contact the office at 937-393-1918.

References:

National Fire Protection Association. (2014). Fireworks Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and   reports/Fact     sheets/FireworksFactSheet.pdf.

National Fire Protection Association. (2018). Fireworks Safety Fact Sheet. Retrieved from            https://firesafety.osu.edu/posts/documents/fireworkssafetytips-july-safety-tips.pdf

Kman, N., & Whittaker, A. (2018, June 29). Fireworks safety: How you can prevent burns and injuries. Retrieved from https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/firework-safety

 

Upcoming Events:

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

The next Highland County Master Gardener Volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 10 AM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 110 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

11:30 am Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

Registration details will come in the mail from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Registration for OSU Extension Pesticide and Fertilizer and your renewal application for ODA Pesticide/Fertilizer must both be completed. Meals will be included at each recertification training at Ponderosa.

Keeping your Evergreen Green

Brooke Beam, Ph.D.

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches. The evergreen is a prominent symbol of the holiday season, but Christmas tree branches are more lovely when they aren’t dropping pine needles into the carpet. Thankfully, one easy task will help your tree’s branches stay lovely for the rest of the season.

The tradition of decorating homes with evergreen boughs dates back to the early Romans, according to Dixie Sandborn with Michigan State University Extension. Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees around 1,000 years ago. However, the tradition became more popular after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were shown standing in front of their Christmas tree in the London News in 18461. One of Thomas Edison’s assistants developed the idea for electric Christmas tree lights in 1882, with the first sale of Christmas lights in 18902.

While individuals who are celebrating Christmas this year have many options when it comes to their trees and decorations, keeping fresh cut trees watered will help the tree stay hydrated. This will help keep the pine needles from dropping, and also keep the tree from drying excessively and becoming a fire hazard. Christmas lights should be turned off unless the tree is supervised by someone in the house in case of a fire.

Another topic you may have seen in the news related to fresh cut Christmas trees are praying mantis eggs. The eggs are attached to the branches of the evergreen trees and when the trees are brought inside in the warmth of homes, the eggs may begin to hatch. However, simply removing the branch the egg casings are attached to and leaving the branch outside will allow the eggs to hatch naturally. The egg casings are round and brown in appearance and can contain several hundred eggs in each.

Keeping your fresh cut decorations green for the holidays can be achieved with adequate water and by checking the tree for dry branches. Before bringing the greenery into your home, check the branches for any eggs or animals that may be attached to the tree. For more information on how to keep your greenery festive this season, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events:

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

The next Highland County Master Gardener Volunteer meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 10 AM in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 110 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

11:30 am Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

Registration details will come in the mail from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Registration for OSU Extension Pesticide and Fertilizer and your renewal application for ODA Pesticide/Fertilizer must both be completed. Meals will be included at each recertification training at Ponderosa.

 

1History. 2018. History of Christmas Trees. Retrieved from  https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees.

2University of Illinois Extension. 2018. Christmas Tree Facts. Retrieved from:         http://extension.illinois.edu/trees/facts.cfm.

 

Don’t Forget About the Young Gardeners!

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

Ohio State University Extension Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

Have you thought about the younger generation of gardeners and what you might give them to fuel their interest in digging in the dirt? Each year when I speak with 4-H gardeners, I am thrilled when I hear the words, “I learned about gardening from my Grandparents.”

One of my favorite catalogs to leaf through is “Gardening with Kids.” They have a fantastic website full of great ideas for parents and teachers, and yes, grandparents! Does a young family live close by? Have you considered inviting their children to visit your gardens?

In the words of the author of “101 Kid-Friendly Plants,” “Kids are endlessly curious, basically kind, completely genuine, and a lot of fun. They enjoy messes, are gleeful about the basics of nature, and absorb anything they are interested in like giant sponges.” What qualities make perfect plants for kids? Yummy fruit. Big, bold flowers. Funky leaves. Sweet fragrances. Branches to hide in. Fly-eating jaws. Cindy Krezel’s book is a great resource for finding plants that are safe, easy to use, and fun in their own way. But she also cautions readers that you must always think “safety first!”

Another fun book is Rocks, Dirt, Worms & Weeds– A fun, user-friendly illustrated guide to creating a vegetable or flower garden with your kids. Jeff Hutton, author, landscaper and gardener, guides grown-ups and children in starting seeds indoors, creating a garden, and harvesting the bounty. In addition to teaching kids how to compost and mulch, Hutton provides ideas for activities in and around the garden, including: Planting a sunflower maze, Making a rain gauge, Creating a butterfly garden, and much more.

Looking for some fun “easy read” books for young gardeners? Some of my favorites include: Oh, say can you seed? (from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library), Miss Maple’s Seeds, Seed to Plant (National Geographic) and Ten Little Caterpillars.

Wondering about gardening supplies for that young gardening enthusiast? Or do you want to spark some interest? What about a windowsill herb garden kit? A weather station? Do you have a bird-feeding station? Have you ever thought about raising worms? Do you want to do a better job of composting? These are all activities that are great for young gardeners as well!

It’s supposed to warm up a bit. Now would be a great time to install a snow measuring stick with a young gardener! Take a square stake 2” x 2” and 5 to 6 feet tall. Drive the stake into the ground 8-12″, so it will stay upright. Measure off 6” increments and mark them with a permanent marker. Then paint/color each increment a different color. Write down what color indicates what depth. In winter you should be able to look out of the window and see your stake!

It’s almost time for that year-end list of successes and failures. What worked and didn’t work. Get out that garden journal and start your list. Do you have any gardening “resolutions” for 2019? Start writing!

 

The Gardener’s Christmas List

Submitted by Faye Mahaffey

OSUE Brown County Master Gardener Volunteer

 

It’s official! It’s time to think about the gardeners on your gift list. I have had a few discussions with my husband, and I hope that the only Christmas present I receive this year is the promise to build my raised bed gardens in the spring! I have been working on the design and am gathering information. I am looking forward to a new stage of gardening that hopefully won’t involve as many weeds!

Gardeners are always looking for that new garden tool that will make their life easier in the garden. The tool corner in my potting shed tells the history of my gardening. I have my grandpa’s hoe, a spade, a round point shovel and then a variety of “new” garden tools that made promises to cut off weeds quicker or chop up those clods in the garden. The high wheel cultivator is stored in the barn since my grandpa had always bragged that it had never been left out in the rain!

When asked what their favorite garden tools were, my gardening friends were quick to share their answers: pruners with gears that allow you to cut a good size limb with little strength, a seed planter that evenly distributes the seed and speeds up the process, a Rogue Hoe that is made of agricultural disc blades and is made in the USA, a folding pruning saw, because it is compact, fits in your pocket, and has sturdy blades that are replaceable, and a poly bedding fork that is handy to use when you are spreading mulch.

Do you have a gardener on your list this year? Here are some other gift suggestions that you might consider: Rain gauge, composter, computer software, yard cart, soil knife, Harvest basket, Wireless Remote weather station, or a gift certificate from a local merchant, nursery, or garden center. Gardeners love to wander the aisles with “cash in hand” looking for that special tool, comfortable pair of gloves, or a special piece of art that will add a splash of color to their landscape.

What about a book as a gift? The books that are on the top of my “reader’s list” this year include: Raised Bed Revolution (Tara Nolan), Good Garden Bugs (Mary M. Gardiner), Gardening with Perennials (Noel Kingsbury), 100 Plants to Feed the Bees (The Xerces Society), Planting in a Post-Wild World (Thomas Rainer and Claudia West) and Raised Row Gardening (Jim and Mary Competti).

My husband has learned that even old shovels, tractor parts, and other metal “treasures” can find a new life in my flower beds. I have a garden creature that we created out of an old spade, pitchfork and some miscellaneous spare parts and named him Heathcliff. There is a John Deere M radiator that is waiting in the barn that I hope will become the body of a garden scarecrow that will be installed in the center of my new raised bed garden.

Are you planning your new garden while the snow flies?

Leadership Highland Health and Public Safety Day

Brooke Beam, PhD

Ohio State University Extension, Highland County

Agriculture and Natural Resources/Community Development Extension Educator

Tim Parry, Vice President of Operations at Highland District Hospital, discussed the expansion plans for the hospital and provided a walking tour of the existing facilities.

Class members of Leadership Highland participated in Health and Public Safety Day on November 14, 2018.  Participants learned about health care, safety, and the security procedures available for Highland County.

The Highland District Hospital provided breakfast for the participants of Leadership Highland and a tour of the hospital facilities. Randal Lennartz, President and CEO of Highland District Hospital, and Tim Parry, Vice President of Operations, discussed the hospital’s future plans for expansion. The expansion project will include a new cancer care unit, an expanded and remodeled surgery unit, an increased number of beds for patients, and additional parking, among other projects.

The second tour of the day was of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office and the Highland County Jail. Leadership Highland participants learned about the daily operation of the jail and the jobs assigned to the inmates. Corporal Benson, of the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the tour. After the tour of the jail, Corporal Benson provided a tour of the Sheriff’s Office and the 911 call center.

During lunch, Brooke Beam, of the Highland County Extension Office, conducted a workshop on communication strategies for businesses. Risk and crisis communication strategies were highlighted in the workshop, particularly for handling a press conference. Strategies for social media, photography, and basic video production were also discussed in the workshop.

Firemen Anderson, Sanborn, and Snyder showed the Leadership Highland participants the Jaws of Life.

Following lunch, Leadership Highland participants toured the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Hillsboro facilities. Firemen Anderson, Sanborn, and Snyder provided a detailed tour of the facilities and the equipment they use on each vehicle. They showed Leadership Highland participants the water trucks, fire trucks, and ambulances.

Leadership Highland participants were able to see all of the vehicles used by the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District.

Jared Warner, Highland County Health Commissioner, led Leadership Highland participants on a tour of the Highland County Health Department and explained the different areas the Health Department covers. The Health Department provides immunizations, food inspections, sewage system inspections, tracks the spread of infectious diseases in the county, and maintains the birth and death records. In 2017, the Highland County Health Department tracked 289 infectious diseases, conducted 699 food inspections, conducted 1,028 sewage system inspections, and provided 3,702 immunizations. The Health Department is staffed by 13 full-time employees and a few part-time contractors.

David Bushelman, the Director of the Highland County Office of Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Agency, provided the final tour of the day. In the event of a natural disaster or a terror attack in Highland County, Bushelman would provide a plan for mitigating the threat. Bushelman operates and maintains an emergency call center that is on standby in case it would need to be used in an emergency. He also offers local emergency planning training.

Thank you to the Highland District Hospital, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Ponderosa Steakhouse, Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, Highland County Health Department, and the Highland County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for assisting with Leadership Highland’s Health and Public Safety Day. The next meeting of Leadership Highland will be held in December. For more information about Leadership Highland, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

 

Upcoming Events:

The next Highland County Monthly Extension Program will be held on December 10, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. at the Ponderosa Steakhouse in Hillsboro, Ohio. Gary Ludwig from the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services will be speaking on managing Black Vulture Predation.  Please RSVP and plan to attend.

Highland County Master Gardener Volunteers will hold their next meeting on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 4 pm in the Large Meeting Room in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, OH. The plan for 2019 will be set at this meeting, as well as recording volunteer hours for 2018. There will be a holiday cookie exchange at the meeting. For more information, contact the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

A fifth Beef Quality Assurance Training will be held at Union Stockyards on Tuesday, January 22, 2018, at 6:30 P.M. Please RSVP to the Highland County Extension Office at 937-393-1918.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertifications: 

February 19, 2019

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

6:30 pm Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

March 4, 2018

Ponderosa Banquet Center, 545 S. High Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

10:00 am to 11:00 am Fertilizer Recertification – Private and Commercial

11:30 am Pesticide Recertification (Core, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6) Private Applicators Only

Registration details will come in the mail from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Registration for OSU Extension Pesticide and Fertilizer and your renewal application for ODA Pesticide/Fertilizer must both be completed. Meals will be included at each recertification training at Ponderosa.

Upcoming Highland County Master Gardener Volunteers Meeting

The Highland County Master Gardener Volunteers will be meeting on November 28, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. in the small meeting room in the basement of 119 Governor Foraker Place, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. At the meeting, we will be discussing the future of the Highland County Master Gardener Volunteers program and how to track hours.

If you are unable to attend, please contact Brooke Beam at 937-393-1918 to discuss your involvement in the program.