County News

Helping young athletes make smart nutrition practices is the focus of a program from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach for coaches, teachers, and athletic directors. “Parents depend on teachers and coaches to give their players accurate information about training diets, supplements, and fluids,” said Jody Gatewood, ISU Extension Assistant State Nutrition Specialist. “These sessions are designed to help coaches and others know what kind of advice they can offer.”

Get ready for a fun-filled summer of Day Camps! Washington County Extension will be offering a wide variety of camps for grades Pre-K through 5th grade. Registration forms are due June 1st to the Extension Office, but be sure to register early as camps fill up quickly!

Proper mowing practices play a vital role in helping to maintain a healthy, sustainable home lawn. Lawn mowing is only one question horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach answer about lawn care and how to have a lawn with the desired characteristics. Homeowners and gardeners with lawn questions should contact horticulturists at Hortline by emailing hortline@iastate.edu or calling 515-294-3108 .

Some vegetables are planted in the garden using small plants (transplants) rather than seeds. This is standard practice with warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant and is becoming the practice with cucumbers, squash, cantaloupes and watermelons because transplants shorten the time by several weeks between planting and harvest.

The importance of planning when selecting trees is explained in Guidelines for Selecting Trees (RG 702), an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication.  Iowans must consider multiple things when selecting trees for a site.

Don’t watch TV all summer.  Climb a 50 foot climbing wall.  Cook outdoors.  Have a great leadership experience, meet new people, and have lots of fun!   

Washington County Extension received the 2012 Business of the Year award at the Washington Chamber of Commerce annual dinner on March 18, 2013.

Any 4-H or FFA member showing livestock at the Washington County Fair and/or the Iowa State Fair are required to be FSQA certified. There are only two locations in the area still offering trainings. 

The Keokuk Master Gardeners have published a Wild Flower book. There are 28 wild flowers in this book, with descriptions of the flowers, where to find them and when they will bloom. This book is a way to get youth interested in outdoor activities, horticulture and wild flowers. There is a scavenger hunt with scoring for finding the flowers in the book.