Forestry

Habitat Stewardship Brochure: Floodplain Forests

4-H and Youth   

As we close out the current 4-H year and move into the new year we would like to thank all the people who have volunteered their time on behalf of the 4-H program and the youth of Cheshire County. We have had several fabulous things happen in Cheshire County 4-H this year. 

• We sent 28 teens to Teen Conference, held at UNH in Durham NH, and had two members chosen for Teen Council. (We have never sent so many youth.) 
• We are sending 17 dairy youth and 7 horse youth to Eastern States Exposition, which is almost half of the delegation for each species; one working steer youth, and six of the seven beef youth that are attending the Big E are from Cheshire County. We have 11 youth attending with their demonstrations and Action Exhibits. 
• We had new updates to our 4-H Exhibit Hall at Cheshire Fair, that complimented our exhibits, and in turn we received many great compliments about our building from the fair directors and fair goers alike. 
• We are sending two members to National Dairy Conference, held in Madison WI,  three members and one leader to National Dairy Quiz Bowl, held in Louisville KY, one member to National Horse Quiz Bowl, also held in Louisville KY; and had four State Achievement Award Winners.  

THANK YOU for all of the hard work that you have put in on behalf of our 4-H youth, you have certainly made a difference.  

Rep. Henry Parkhurst (center) with (left to right) Nicholas Doolittle, Jacob Blake, Amy Gowell Drogue and Christine Abdelnour.

Agriculture         

Having enjoyed a good month of peak production from the vegetable garden by now, there's been an abundance of green beans, tomatoes, and sweet corn, sometimes even a surplus. Many people know about preserving these crops with canning and freezing, and they work hard during the summer putting up jars of pickles or tomato sauce, and they stock their freezers with packages of frozen vegetables to enjoy some time later in winter. (full article)

Light Up your Chickens' Lives

If you notice that your flock's egg production has decreased this fall it could be from a lack of light. A hen's egg laying is governed in part by the pineal gland, located in the chicken's brain. It's light sensitive, and when it's dark it produces hormones that inhibit ovulation. It seems that 14-16 hours of light exposure are necessary to keep hens laying. During the summer, there's enough daylight that problems don't arise. Once the days start getting shorter during the fall and winter, however, egg production drops off until days start getting longer again the following spring.  (full article) 

Family & Consumer Resource     

Where Do You Store Fresh Apples?

September is Grandparents Month

University of Delaware Professor Helps Solve the Social Security Retirement Puzzle

Can't wait to claim your Social Security retirement benefits? Think you'll get the most by claiming your benefits as soon as possible, at age 62? Think again, http://www.extension.org/pages/59985/university-of-delaware-professor-helps-solve-the-social-security-retirement-puzzle.

Food & Nutrition  

$upermarket $aving$:

16 Tips that Total BIG Bucks!

Once in awhile I meet the kind of people who might be called "super shoppers".  They are highly motivated, and are full of energy and self-discipline.  These people make time in their busy schedules to shop sales, use coupons and  travel to discount stores.  They have no store or brand loyalty and go where the bargains are to buy their food and household supplies.  

But what about the rest of us?  Do we have to grow our own and cook our food from scratch to keep our grocery bills in check?  Not so, says Alice Henneman of the University of Nebraska Extension.  Much of what we can do to save food dollars happens before we even get to the store!  Take a look at her suggestions in "Supermarket Savings: 16 Tips that Total Big Bucks!"   (full article)  

Kale: A Nutritional Powerhouse and Great Crop for Northern Gardens

When most of the garden is put to bed, kale can still be harvested, unlike more tender summer greens.   Kale is a member of the cabbage family, also known as cruciferous vegetables.  It is high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and is a good source of calcium and potassium.  Kale will keep in the refrigerator for nearly a week without deteriorating.  Store in a plastic bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator.  Try the following simple recipes for braised kale or cook up a potful of kale and sausage soup.