HIGHLIGHTS
Community Garden Plots Available in Price County
Would you like to garden, but don’t have a place to do it? The Price County UW-Extension office is facilitating community garden projects this spring in Park Falls, Phillips and Prentice. People who want to participate can rent a four foot by eight foot raised bed for a fee of $10 for the growing season. We’ll be teaching people how to use an intensive gardening technique known as “square foot gardening.” With this method, an amazing amount of food can be grown in a very small area because there is virtually no wasted space. A nice assortment of seeds are available free of charge for people who rent a plot. The plots may be utilized by individuals or groups.
With the square foot gardening technique, there are very few problems with weeds because of the dense planting in the beds that prevents the open spaces that normal gardens have, which give weeds the opportunity to grow alongside the desirable plants. During this time of economic uncertainty, a small garden plot can provide a substantial cost savings for vegetables, and it’s impossible to get food fresher than when you pick it yourself!
With the help of Price County UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, we’ll teach you what you need to know to be successful at growing your own produce. Then, as the season progresses, staff from the UW-Extension Office will be offering classes on how to prepare and preserve the food that you grow.
Plots must be reserved by Monday, May 11th by calling the Price County UW-Extension Office at 339-2555.
Master Food Preservation Training - 2009
Wondering what to do with all that garden produce that you are sure to have come August this year? Do you want to learn about home canning, freezing foods, or drying foods so that you can teach others? Then consider attending the Master Food Preserver and Food Safety Volunteer training! This 3-day program is designed to introduce you to the basics of food safety and home food preservation. Participants completing the pretest, the 3-day hands-on training, and scoring a satisfactory grade on the daily take-home examinations and the final test will be certified as Master Food Preservers. Master Food Preservers are asked to provide 20 hours of volunteer service annually to UW-Extension in their county, helping to answer general food safety and food preservation questions.
Over the course of the 3-day workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn about the following topics:
- · General food safety, microorganisms and home food processing
- · Canning high acid foods like peaches and apple pie filling
- · Canning low acid foods like carrots, green beans or meat
- · Freezing and drying food
- · Making jams and jellies
- · Canning acidified foods like salsa, pickles and tomatoes
- · Successful fermentation to produce sauerkraut or genuine dill pickles There will be time set aside for learning, group discussion and hands-on exercises.
This training will be offered at 3 locations around the state this summer:
- · Ashland, WI - June 24-26
- · Green Bay, WI - July 7-9
- · Mosinee, WI - August 11-13
Apply early, sessions fill up quickly. To obtain a brochure call the Price County Extension Office at (715)339-2555.
Composting and Organic Gardening Classes Coming to Park Falls, Phillips, and Prentice
Are you interested in gardening, but don’t know where to start?
Would you like to garden, but don’t have a place to do it?
If you answered “yes” to either of those questions, plan to join us for the next program in a series for new gardeners. These sessions are being held in Park Falls, Prentice, and Phillips (you can attend whichever location is most convenient for you—the same information will be covered at each site).
These programs will be taught by Price County UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. The classes will follow the following schedule:
Composting and organic gardening
Instead of throwing away those food scraps, weeds, and lawn clippings, you can use them to improve the fertility and quality of your garden soil. This class will cover composting and some simple organic gardening methods to help you raise good quality food without expensive or possibly dangerous synthetic chemicals:
Park Falls: Tuesday, May 5th, 7-8:30 pm, Park Falls City Hall
Phillips: Wednesday, May 6th, 1:30-3 pm, Price County UW-Extension Office
Prentice: Thursday, May 7th, 7-8:30 pm, Prentice High School
There’s no fee to attend these programs, but we ask that you preregister so we have materials for you. To register, please call the Price County UW-Extension Office at 339-2555. FAMILY FINANCIAL PROGRAMS FOR 2009
Do you need help in gaining control of your finances? You will get help in answering these questions – Where does your money go? What do you want to spend your money on? And How do I keep track of my spending?
Also covered will be Managing Family Credit and Debt. This session will help you understand credit, determine how much credit you can afford, debt reduction and repayment strategies and an optional computer analysis.
The cost is $10.00 and you have many dates and times to choose from in two locations – Phillips Normal Building or the Park Falls Library. Classes will be held at 10 a.m. – noon OR 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Phillips dates are:
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May 4 |
September 10 |
October 8 |
November 16 |
December 7 |
Park Falls dates are:
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May 11 |
September 24 |
October 22 |
November 19 |
December 10 |
Be sure to call and register at the UW-Extension Office at 339-2555.
There’s a Place for You in 4-H – Enroll Now!
Wisconsin 4-H! It’s the place to explore! It’s the place to “learn by doing!” It’s the place to build friendships that can last a lifetime!
In 4-H, youth are able to learn by doing! They participate. They get involved. They get active in hand’s on learning!
They practice leadership. They can become club officers, activity leaders and project leaders. Members develop skills that prepare them for the real world!
4-H members belong! They have a sense of pride in their 4-H club’s accomplishments and are able to share the pride with the 4-H community and the larger community around them.
In 4-H members explore the world around them! 4-Hers are able to choose from a variety of projects that include animals, arts and crafts, foods, theater and much more! As they explore these projects, 4-H members build skills that can last a lifetime.
No matter where you live, there is a place for you in 4-H! For more information on 4-H in Price County, contact the UW-Extension Office at 339-2555 or go online at www.uwex.edu/ces/4h.
A list of 4-H club contacts is listed under 4-H Clubs. Feel free to contact a club in your area for meeting time and place. Financial aid Information for Students and Parents
A new website will help students and parents navigate the confusing world of funding higher education.
The Project on Student Debt (http://projectonstudentdebt.org) is a free source for information and resources that include:
Borrower’s guide (based on the numerous July 1, 2008 changes)
Current loan policy initiatives
Find out how the credit squeeze impacts the student loan industry
Information borrowers can use both before and after borrowing loans
Overview of current loan terms and rates
Resources/assistance for borrowers having trouble with their loans
State by State student loan indebtness data
Student loan tips for recent graduates
Up-to-date info on the new Income-Based Repayment option
Up-to-date info on the new Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Check this site out before you make student loan decisions. |
