Grow and Give!
As the ground warms and you prepare for the season ahead, did you know there is a one-stop shop for local, fact-based resources? Grow and Give is a statewide modern victory garden project that was started in 2020. There is something for all levels of gardener, including sample garden bed plans, pest and disease information, and the comprehensive Colorado Vegetable Guide (available in English and Spanish).
If there is anything more rewarding than growing your own food, it’s sharing in your success. Whether you want to cook for your family, share with your neighbors, or donate your harvests to local organizations, Grow and Give has you covered. Find recipes and food safety information, plus learn where and how to donate your food locally.
How do we know Grow and Give gardeners make a difference? Last year, 704 registered gardens in 32 Colorado counties donated more than 55,290 pounds of food. You can contribute and help capture this impact by registering your garden and reporting the food you share.
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Spring Garden Q&A
There are no silly questions, and CSU Extension is here to help with local, evidence-based resources. If you’ve been wondering where to start with your landscape, check out some of the most common questions coming through the CSU Extension office right now.
Yes! Lawn aeration, or core cultivation, benefits your lawn in many ways by reducing soil compaction and improving lawn root systems for healthier, greener lawns no matter the season. Aeration also creates a great environment for spring seeding or fertilizing.
This depends on the shrub and the type of pruning needed. For shrubs that flower in the spring like lilacs, wait until after this year’s blooms to prune or you won’t get flowers this year. Shrubs that bloomed last summer or fall can be pruned in the spring - starting shortly before bud set, and including right now.
Home landscapes can play a critical role in mitigating the risk of wildfire damage to your property. Clean-up of dry plant material, creating defensible space, and choosing plants wisely are all part of an overall firewise plan.
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As of the beginning of April, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild and backyard birds in Colorado. If you are a bird or poultry owner, learn about steps you can take to increase your biosecurity with the USDA’s ‘Defend the Flock’ program. Visit the Colorado Department of Agriculture Avian Influenza website for an interactive map of confirmed HPAI cases and up-to-date information on wild and domestic birds.
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Two groups of 3rd to 5th graders joined a new afterschool offering at Emerald Elementary School this spring. With help from the CSU Extension 4-H STEM AmeriCorps program and Colorado Master Gardener volunteers, students helped build, care for, and troubleshoot an aeroponic grow tower full of nutritious food. They created eco-citizen projects around lessons like reducing waste, and - of course - they celebrated and enjoyed their harvest with a salad party! |
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STEM Activity: The Dirt on Hydroponics
Good soil and water are vital to gardening, but did you know some plants can grow without soil? Designed for grades 3-8, this hydroponic activity is part of the 4-H At-Home Garden Series.
Check out instructions for other STEM activities on the Broomfield CSU Extension website.
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Join the Seed Library
The Broomfield Seed Library is officially open! If you haven't signed up yet, submit your Membership Form now so you can start borrowing (and donating!) seeds.
Look for the seed collection in the repurposed card catalog located on the second floor of the Broomfield Library. The selection varies depending on donations and seasonality, so you'll want to check frequently to see what's available.
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Cottage Food Safety Training
Offered by Colorado State University Extension, this nationally-recognized training program covers the specifics of the Colorado Cottage Food Act and how to safely operate a food business from a home kitchen. The $50 online class is next offered on the following Fridays:
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Gardening Webinars from CSU Extension
All webinars begin at noon. Classes are free to the public, but registration is required. After registering, you will be emailed a link to join the Zoom meeting.
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Ask a Master Gardener is Back!
Broomfield Master Gardeners are now available in person to answer horticulture-related questions at convenient community locations:
Master Gardeners now have walk-in hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the CSU Extension Office in the Broomfield Library. Prefer a call-back? You may leave a message anytime on the Master Gardener Helpline at 303.464.5554, or submit your question(s) using this online form. |
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Check out What's New on the Broomfield CSU Extension website
for more upcoming events!
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Welcome, Master Gardener Apprentices!
CSU Extension welcomes EIGHT new members to its team of volunteers in Broomfield. Five completed the intensive Colorado Master Gardener training program in the fall, and three are completing the training right now, including the final exam! Next, each apprentice will complete 50 hours of volunteer service (a.k.a. on-the-job training) in the Broomfield gardening community.
Congratulations to Nancie Connolly, Kristin Moore, Mehrgan Mostowfi, Judi Servidio, Rebecca Talley, Erin Kartheiser, Angela Nickerson, and Polly Ruff.
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If you're interested in becoming a Colorado Master Gardener in Broomfield,
please visit our website for more information.
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Reach out to CSU Extension in Broomfield
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Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Colorado State University Extension,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Colorado counties cooperating.
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