(402) 444-7804

January 2025

Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

Extension Impact: Linda Reddish Appointed to Omaha's New Children's Museum

The Omaha Children’s Museum (OCM) is thrilled to announce a collaborative project to build a new museum, designed to create extraordinary experiences for children. To ensure its success, OCM has formed an advisory group of experts to guide the project from concept to completion, grounded in best practices for early childhood development.

We are excited to share that Nebraska Extension Educator Linda Reddish has been selected to serve on this prestigious advisory board! Linda will lend her expertise in early childhood development and parenting education to help shape the new museum, ensuring it meets the needs of young children and families.

Omaha Children’s Museum plans to transition to its new home in late 2027. Thank you, Linda, for using your knowledge and experience to make a lasting, positive impact on children in our community. Learn more about this project at https://www.ocmriverfront.org/

Empower Your Classroom with 4-H: Sign Up for our Enrichment Programs!

4-H in the classroom is a program designed to bring 4-H activities and educational content into schools to complement classroom learning. It provides hands-on learning experiences for students in various subjects, including science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), as well as life skills, leadership, and citizenship. The goal is to engage students in interactive, project-based activities that foster critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving, while also aligning with curriculum standards. Sign your class up today at

https://douglas-sarpy.unl.edu/4-h-youth-development/4-h-classroom/

Featured Horticulture Resources for January

Winter Lawn Warning

Use ice melt sparingly.

Choose ice melt products with calcium chloride and calcium magnesium acetate a

Use equal parts ice melt product and sand. This mix will provide traction, with less damage to the landscape.

See more tips here.

Fertilizing Houseplants

During the winter months, houseplants experience reduced growth, which means their need for nutrients decreases. Unless plants have supplemental grow lights, continuing to fertilize in winter can lead to a buildup of fertilizer salts in the potting soil, potentially reaching harmful levels that can damage or kill the plants. For houseplants in the window, it’s best to fertilize from March through October, when sunlight intensity and duration support healthy growth and vigor.

Watering Houseplants in Winter

The best way to water houseplants is from the top down, allowing excess water to drain into the catch dish below. Let the plants sit in the excess water for about an hour before emptying the dish.

Wicking, a method of watering, along with leaving drained water in catch dishes, can cause minerals and salts to accumulate on the soil surface as the water evaporates. Water temperature is crucial for root activity, so always bring the water to room temperature before using it. Never place ice cubes on the soil, as the cold water can damage the plant's roots.

Did you know that the Nebraska Forest Service is part of the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources?

While Nebraska is often recognized as a prairie state, its trees provide a wealth of benefits and resources to residents. The Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) is committed to preserving and enhancing these vital resources. Through various programs, NFS offers technical, educational, and financial support to a wide range of community partners.

One key program, Community Forestry, works with municipalities, green industry professionals, and community organizations to tackle the growing challenges facing Nebraska's community forests. These trees are crucial in making our cities and towns more livable. The Douglas-Sarpy Nebraska Extension Office is home to the local Community Forester Specialist, Graham Herbst.

Gain insights from Graham’s expertise in his 30-minute talk, Planting Trees With a Purpose.

To learn more about the Nebraska Forest Service, visit https://nfs.unl.edu/.

Extension Board Updates

Extension Board member Juliet Summers recently completed her terms on the Douglas-Sarpy Extension Board. The Extension staff and community are grateful for her supporting role in establishing and accomplishing extension education program goals.

Stay Active This Winter: At-Home Workouts to Keep You Moving All Year Long

Staying physically active is important year-round, but the cold Nebraska winter can make it harder to keep moving. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week for adults and 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents.

Check out Nebraska Extension's 'At-Home Workouts', designed to help you stay active from the comfort of your living room!

https://food.unl.edu/workouts

2025 Early Childhood Professional Development Classes

Handling challenging behaviors is often one of the most stressful aspects of working with young children. That's why we're excited to introduce a new approach to professional development! Each week, we’ll focus on a key aspect of early care and education that directly influences children's behavior in your program. Before each session, we’ll invite participants to share their current challenges, and together, we'll troubleshoot and explore solutions during the class.

When: 01/14, 01/21, 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 03/04, 03/11

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm Central Time

1-hour certificate awarded after each session. Classes will be recorded.

For more information, contact Katie at katie.krause@unl.edu

Featured Food Resources for January

Food Safety During Snow and Ice Storms

During a snowstorm, do not place perishable food out in the snow. Outside temperatures can vary and food can be exposed to unsanitary conditions and animals. Instead, make ice by filling buckets or cans with water and leave them outside to freeze. Use this ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers.

https://food.unl.edu/article/what-do-perishable-food-during-power-outage

Tips to Reduce Food Waste and Save Money at the Grocery Store

We can reduce food waste and be more environmentally friendly by shopping smart. Store promotions may tempt us to buy more food than we need, leading to wasted food and money.

Start by checking what you already have in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Then, plan your meals based on those ingredients. Be sure to consider any dining out or leftover options to avoid unnecessary purchases.

Get more tips at https://food.unl.edu/article/tips-reduce-food-waste-and-save-money-grocery-store

Healthy and Safe Meals Using Slow Cooker

Americans' busy lifestyles often affect their cooking habits, with over 54% of food dollars spent on eating out, which tends to be higher in calories and fat. Planning meals ahead can boost health, save time, and reduce costs. Family meals are typically more nutritious and offer a chance for parents and children to reconnect. Using a slow cooker can help increase home-cooked meals. Learn more about slow cooker benefits, food safety, and recipe ideas.

https://food.unl.edu/article/healthy-bites/healthy-meals-using-slow-cooker

Learn more about horticulture and the 4-H program by signing up for our Newsletters:

Monthly Horticulture Newsletter by emailing Rachel here.
Weekly 4-H Newsletter by emailing 4-H here.

Watching baby chicks hatch will not only bring excitement to your science lessons but also brighten up your classroom during those dreary winter days! Our Winter Embryology session runs from February 18th to March 14th! Sign up here.

Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties

8015 West Center Road, Omaha

402-444-7804

go.unl.edu/douglassarpyext

Email us at douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Our south office is located at 1102 E. 1st St., Papillion, NE 68046.

Call 402-444-7804 to schedule an appointment at our Papillion Office.

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Douglas-Sarpy County Extension at 402-444-7804 or douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Nebraska Extension education programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United State Department of Agriculture.