Forestry

Backyard Maple Sugarin'

Traveling through New England this time of the year you will start to notice the first signs of spring. No, it's not blooming crocuses or the return of the robin. It's the sound of maple sap dripping into sap buckets and the sweet smell of the steam rising from the sugar house. For many in New England, the start of the maple sugaring season is the start of spring. This is certainly true for the commercial sugar producers in the area, but if you have a few sugar maple trees in your backyard, you and your family can usher in spring by producing your own maple syrup right in your own backyard.

The process of boiling sap down to syrup is work, but is fun, educational and can be a great family activity. If you have access to a few sugar or red maples, you can produce maple syrup. The procedure outlined is for the backyard hobbyist who is just getting started in maple sugaring and provides a list of the equipment needed and a step-by-step procedure to make maple syrup. (full article) 

4-H and Youth  

4-H Animal Science Bonanza  

The 4-H Animal Science Bonanza was recently held at Keene State College with sixty-five 4-H youth and twenty volunteers participating. The day involved teaching 4-H members a variety of science skills within the animal science arena.

State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl 

4-H members from Cheshire County recently participated in the State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl held in Belmont NH. Quiz Bowl is similar to the game show Jeopardy except all the questions relate to animals. Questions can relate to breeds, history, health and diseases, genetics, reproduction, showing and conformation, anatomy and physiology, equipment, and the animal industry and its products.

Agriculture        

Forcing Branches of Flowering Shrubs to Bloom

Winter days may be gloomy and dull, but you can give your home a touch of spring by forcing landscape branches to  bloom indoors.  

Spring-flowering trees and shrubs set their flower buds the previous fall. Once the buds have been exposed to cold for several months (usually by mid-January), a branch can be cut and forced to bloom indoors. The easiest branches to force include forsythia, pussy willow, honeysuckle, crabapple, redbud, magnolia and flowering dogwood. (full article) 

Winter Bug Update

It's not at all unusual to spot caterpillars in your lawn or in a nearby hayfield; it is, however, a little unusual to see them in your yard or in a hayfield in the middle of winter. Yet there have been a couple of report of just that. These are most likely Noctua pronuba, or winter cutworm. These critters are the overwintering larvae of moths, and they're extremely cold tolerant. In the fairly mild winter we've had so far, these caterpillars remain somewhat active while any other overwintering caterpillars are hibernating in the soil or under the cover of plant debris. While winter cutworm is a serious pest of grain and hay crops in some parts of the country, here they're really nothing more than a curiosity. Or a protein-rich snack for foraging birds. (full article)

Family & Consumer Resources  

Food Safety During Power Outages

Did you know that a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness.   

Be prepared and check out this short USDA video:   

Food Safety During Power Outages

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Where can I purchase a series EE savings bond?

Before January 1, 2012, you could buy EE bonds at most large financial institutions in your area, through an online bank, or online at TreasuryDirect. However, after January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds will no longer be sold at financial institutions; EE savings bonds can only be bought from TreasuryDirect. There is one exception, however. You can still receive paper savings bonds if you purchase them with your tax refund using Form 8888. "Answers From Our Experts" at eXtension

Food & Nutrition

Think "Fresh", Read Labels to Limit    

Sodium Intake  

Have you put your salt shaker away in the kitchen cabinet or replaced your garlic salt with garlic powder? Even if you have, you may still be eating far more sodium that you realize. High sodium diets may cause hypertension, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and congestive heart failure. (full article)