Forestry

Firewood

4-H and Youth      

What is the 4-H Revolution of Responsibility? It's a national youth movement for positive change in every community in America. 4-H youth are a living breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live.  4-H members can now share their stories of success in improving their communities.  By visiting the National 4-H website, you can now tell the 4-H community about the great things your 4-H club is doing in Cheshire County.

To learn more about "The Revolution of Responsibility" and to share your story, visit:  http://www.4-h.org/about/revolution/

Agriculture      

 Keeping Up With the Bugs

Carl Majewski, Agricultural Resources

UNH Cooperative Extension 

It happens every year; I get a call from someone who went out to work in his garden, only to find the plants were absolutely devastated by Colorado potato beetles, lily leaf beetle, tomato hornworm, squash bugs, Japanese beetles, or...the list goes on. Once we've established the identity of the culprit, the caller invariably wants to know what to do in order to get rid of it. Unfortunately, if the lilies, potatoes, etc. have been reduced to ragged leafless stems, there isn't a whole lot they can do other than shake their fist at the injustice of it all. It doesn't have to be this way; while insect pests can certainly be destructive, there are ways we can manage them and keep any damage to a minimum. (Full Article)

Tackling Tomato Problems

By Margaret Hagen, Agricultural Resources

UNH Cooperative Extension, Hillsborough County 

For most of us growing tomatoes is a blissful,rewarding experience.  Warm, dry weather will promote a bumper crop.  But cold soils in the spring, and mid summer humidity often make it a little more difficult to produce that perfect tomato in New Hampshire. Below are some symptoms (and solutions) to watch for so you aren't cheated out of a bountiful harvest.  (Full Article)  

Learn what it takes to develop your farm or forestry business. Fall course will help farmers and natural resource entrepreneurs plan for success.

Are you interested in running your own business using the natural resources such as the farmland or forests on your property? Do you want to learn how to develop and run a business that involves agriculture, horticulture, or woodland? Incredible opportunities to help you plan your next business. (Full Article) - Flyer  

Family & Consumer Resource   

Parenting the School-Aged Child

Once children reach school age, they face new situations and challenges. Looking at the world through the eyes of your school-aged child will help you shift your thinking about how your child needs you. http://www.extension.org/pages/21905/par enting-the-school-aged-child   

Preserve the Harvest

Many people are growing and/or preserving food at home this summer. Canning and freezing the abundant fruits and vegetables lets us enjoy all the goodness of summer year-round. Whether you've done it for years or are just beginning, check out

http://extension.unh.edu/FoodSafe/FoodPreservation.htm 

for the most current research-based recommendations for home food preservation or attend one of the following:   

Food Preservation Workshop

Preserve Your Fresh Foods Workshop  

Herbs?

Have herbs in your garden? Try drying some of them to use later. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/dry/herbs.html

Got Zucchini?

Do large zucchini have the same nutritional value as small ones? http://www.extension.org/pages/58469/do-large-zucchini-have-the-same-nutritional-value-as-small-ones-i-am-told-to-only-use-small-zucchini 

Food & Nutrition   

 When The Word "Organic" Puts a Healthy Glow on Not-so-Healthy Foods

People who craft food packages are masters of design and psychology because manufacturers want you to buy the products they create. Every picture and word of text, as well as their arrangement, is carefully chosen.   It makes no difference if the aim is to highlight taste, nutrition, or convenience,

Eating more organic food is a valued choice for many people.   A recent study at Cornell University shows that when a food is described as "organic", consumers perceive the food to be tastier, lower in fat and calories, and higher in fiber. In psychological terms, this is known as the "halo" effect. How a person perceives one characteristic of a thing influences how that person perceives its other traits. But let's face facts. Chips are still chips and cookies are still cookies. Too much added fat and sugar are not good for us, no matter what their source. Even organic foods require some portion control. Don't be fooled by that halo.

Read an article from the Cornell Chronicle to learn more about organic labelling's "halo effect".

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April11/OrganicLabelStudy.html