The Gift of Trees Muffled in leaf litter, I stepped carefully, reverently toward the towering column. Unafraid, I knelt softly and pressed my hands on the smooth bark. Solace, solitude, and sanctuary provided by the sturdy boughs. I sat listening ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, Relationships & Family
As parents or caregivers, one of the concepts that we need to teach to our children is the responsibility that comes with handling money. This becomes a valuable tool for them to use as they grow and develop into adulthood. One of the most difficult ... READ MORE
Category: , Clubs & Volunteers, Money Matters
Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito? The bite can be annoying, and in some cases, it can cause an allergic reaction, welts. While feeding, mosquitos also transmit harmful diseases. Did you know that our garden plants have their own mosquito-type ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Crops, Home Landscapes
The 60th annual Land Judging competition, sponsored by the Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District, was held in late February at Rye Preserve in Manatee County. Thirty-one students answered test questions concerning soil properties ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Conservation, Events, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension
Throughout our early education, we were repetitively taught about proper nutrition and eating habits. Vitamins and minerals were discussed, the proper amount of each, and the food pyramid was burned into our minds. Without the right balance, ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, , Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Horticulture
Papaya fruit production can be destroyed by this pest, the papaya fruit fly (Toxotrypana curvicauda). Papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit has a tender skin when the fruit is young. The tenderness is perfect for the fruit fly. The female fruit ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes
Dear Manatee County Plant Exhibitors, I wanted to share some information with you on the plant project this year. The Plant Project is a program for our youth to experience a simulated plant nursery production to engage them in agriculture ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Clubs & Volunteers, Events, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension
As a parent, keeping kids safe is our top priority when our children return to school. This year will be very different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The thought of how the schools, administrators and teachers will be handling this in ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Health & Nutrition, Home Management, Relationships & Family
With classrooms being cleared out to support social distancing, parents everywhere are left to handle their kids’ education. Some families are having an easier time than others, but overall, this is a challenge that few could anticipate. Some ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, , Clubs & Volunteers, Relationships & Family, Work & Life
During the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), a lot of us employees approached the “stay at home” order and the new norm of working from home as encouragement to decrease the curve and the spread of the virus. If you ... READ MORE
Category: 4-H & Youth, Clubs & Volunteers, Home Management, Work & Life