The "Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay,” a collection of World War 1-era ships purposefully sunk in the bay. | |
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Our Charles County Senior Education Programs, led by Michelle Chenault and Donna Ball, have worked hard at the Richard S. Clark Senior Center with the Senior Plus gardening program. They have planted and harvested herbs and vegetables including but not limited to salad greens, tomatoes, green peppers, beans, Cuban oregano and pineapple sage.
For seniors at the Clark Center, there will be a workshop called “Monarch Madness” on Wednesday, September 25. Michael Callahan, Naturalist from the Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center will present.
Jan Lakey-Waters demonstrating flower arranging (photo by Donna Ball).
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The Grow It Eat It Education Project presented a workshop on Vegetable Plant Problems on July 13 at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata.
In addition to providing information about common pests and diseases of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and squash, they also discussed abiotic problems, such as drought and excessive heat.
Many of the Master Gardeners are experiencing pests such as tomato and tobacco hornworms, tomato fruitworm (a.k.a. corn earworm), and the Colorado potato beetle in the Heirloom Tomato Trials.
Photo: Tomato fruitworm (left) and yellow striped armyworm (right) on Cherokee purple tomatoes (photo: Meg MacDonald).
| The next GIEI EDU project workshop is scheduled for October 5, 2024, and will focus on fall vegetable garden tasks. This is free and open to the public; send an email to ccmggiei@gmail.com to register. | |
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The Southern Maryland Food Bank Garden hosted youth groups such as the Upward Thrive Academy in Waldorf, and a Girl Scout Troop.
The groups were able to learn about gardening, and harvested and sampled some produce. So far this year, 485 lbs. of produce have been harvested and given to the Food Bank for their various meal programs. This compares with 420 lbs. harvested at this time last year!
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Butternut squash growing on a trellis arching over two beds. | |
Come see us at the Charles County Fair! | |
Visit the Home & Garden Information Center’s (HGIC) webpage for more gardening information and to submit your questions. You can find more tips and tricks for taking photos here at Ask Extension. You can also follow HGIC on social media- Facebook page, YouTube channel, or Instagram (@umdhgic)HC). | |
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Julia Rycyna
Home Horticulture Educator
Master Gardener Coordinator
jrycyna@umd.edu
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Help! Caterpillars and Worms Are Eating My Garden! | |
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It’s that time of year again where we start seeing an increase in caterpillars in our fields and gardens. I have had a few questions about different caterpillars that people have spotted and want to shed some light on them.
Typically, during early to mid-August we see a large increase in corn earworms also known by pod worms, fruitworms, and cotton bollworms (photo of corn earworm on soybean leaf).
Corn earworm moths migrate north over the summer from southern states and can also overwinter in Maryland depending on the severity of the season. It is the migrating moths that do the majority of crop damage late in the season and are the most economically important. The female moths are attracted to the reproductive parts of plants to lay their eggs, their favorite being corn silks, but they can also be a major pest in soybeans and vegetable crops.
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Unfortunately, corn earworms are an amazing pest, being resistant to many insecticides and even Bt crops. One of the best ways to combat them as a home gardener is by providing habitat for beneficial insects that are natural predators. You could also physically remove them from your plants or apply a netting over the top to exclude the female moths from being able to lay eggs. If you are scouting in corn or soybean fields for corn earworms make sure to use an economic threshold to determine when to spray in order to delay resistance and lower costs. | |
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Another caterpillar becoming a problem recently is the armyworm (photo of armyworm on tomato leaf). There are multiple species of armyworms but the fall armyworms and yellow-striped armyworms are the ones I am currently seeing in the field.
Just like corn earworms, armyworm caterpillars can feed on the foliage or the fruit of your vegetables. I have spotted them on multiple tomato plants and gardeners have reported seeing them in their cucurbits. Again, one of the best ways to combat armyworms is with a healthy population of beneficial insects that can keep the pest problems in check. However, if you would like to apply a pesticide, there are multiple available, just make sure to read the labels.
If you are looking for an organic control method that is kind to beneficials, you could use a product containing Bt. Applications are best done when caterpillars are small for better efficacy. Regularly monitoring your plants is crucial at detecting these pest caterpillars; make sure you are inspecting the underside of the leaves and check for signs of feeding damage. Early intervention can make a significant difference in controlling these pests!
Photo credits: Hayden Schug
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Hayden Schug
Agriculture and Food Systems Educator
hschug@umd.edu
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It's Farmers' Market Season!
There's nothing better than fresh, local produce. Check out some of these local farmers markets:
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La Plata Farmers Market
209 Washington Ave, La Plata, MD
Wednesdays and Saturdays 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Accepts: SNAP, Sun Bucks, FMNP - WIC and Senior; Maryland Market Money will double your benefit $
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Waldorf Farmers Market
3003 Festival Way, Waldorf, MD (Across from CAVA)
Saturdays, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
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Servings: 10
Ingredients:
16 ounces strawberries, diced
2 peaches, washed and diced
8 ounces blueberries
3 Tablespoons strawberry preserves, juice sweetened
Note: Fruits can be swapped depending on what is fresh or on sale. Other great options include apples, raspberries, and melon.
Directions:
- Rinse all fresh fruit and peel or core if necessary.
- Dice all fruit and place in mixing bowl.
- Add strawberry preserves to fruit, mix well, and set aside.
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Serve with Crunchy Cinnamon Chips.
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Servings: 3
Ingredients:
2 cups cantaloupe, cubed
1 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 cup orange juice
Directions:
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
- Serve chilled
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Let's Get Active!
Enjoy the warm weather and implement some outdoor physical activity in your day.
- Enjoy the early morning breeze and take a nature walk.
- Roll out your yoga mat outside and do some stretching.
- Have some healthy competition! Grab your loved ones and visit your local park to play football, basketball or soccer.
- Go for a swim in your neighborhood pool or visit a local beach.
Tips:
- Schedule your outdoor exercising during the coolest parts of the day (early morning sunrise and after 5:00 pm).
- Wear sunscreen and weather-appropriate activewear.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day!
- Listen to your body and don't push yourself too hard. Focus on having fun!
Check out more hot weather physical activities on our Eat Smart Blog
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Jessica Conjour, MPH
Project Leader and Nutrition Educator
Khylah Harris, Program Assistant
Maryland SNAP-Ed
jconjour@umd.edu
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Photo credit: Bonnie Boyden | |
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Celebrating 100 Years of the Charles County Fair's
Support for 4-H Youth!
Come September, an annual tradition happens….the Charles County Fair. The Fair has been the heart of this community for a hundred years and families still get excited to visit the Fair to see all the shows, exhibits and displays.
The highlight of the Fair for the livestock youth is being able to show their project animals and then auctioning them off on Saturday, September 14 at 4:00 pm.
The 4-H'ers work months getting their projects ready for the Fair. Livestock 4-H'ers start in January tending to their beef animals before and after school, feeding them, training them to respond to a calm, guiding hand. Youth will acquire their sheep, swine and goats in early spring to begin the process of care and training.
All the youth look forward to entering their animals in the Fair. Then when judging day arrives, the 4-H'ers lead their animals in the ring, one class at a time, hoping that their animal will be selected as the Champion.
Through this process, the County Fair teaches our youth life skills that will help them as adults, such as self-esteem, managing one's feelings and self-discipline. The Fair also teaches the youth to accept the judge’s decision on where their animals place with grace and humility.
We invite everyone to come to the Fair and see how many things have changed, but the tradition of teaching our youth responsibility and caring has not changed in 100 years. The pride that the youth have knowing that they have successfully completed a project is evident in the showring and in the 4-H building entries.
If you have questions about the Fair or the livestock auction, reach out to Bonnie at bboyden@umd.edu.
SEE YOU AT THE FAIR, SEPTEMBER 12-15!
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Charles County 4-H Marks Another Great Camping Season! | |
Photo credit: Bonnie Boyden | |
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The Charles County 4-H program just completed a fantastic summer camp program of learning-by-doing at the Charles County Fairgrounds for day camp and in the mountains of Western Maryland for overnight camp. Youth between the ages of 8 and 18 experienced many wonderful activities and classes from canoeing to team building. At both our day and overnight camp, youth learn, independence, mastering new projects, working together as one unit, and creating friendships that last a lifetime.
The camp could not happen without the outstanding group of volunteers who give freely of their time to help each youth have that once in a life time feeling of accomplishing a certain task and learning a new life skill.
Day and overnight camp, both, allow the youth to sign up for 3 classes of their choice such as ceramics, archery, photography, and wildlife adventure, to name a few that they participate in each day. The afternoons are spent working as a team in recreation, swimming or tribe meetings to plan the closing activities.
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Above and below photo credits: Kelly Bryant | |
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The closing campfire at overnight camp is where youth learn long-standing 4-H traditions that have been passed down through the generations. The 4-H’ers get to showcase the different skits, stunts, and challenges they have been preparing all week for the closing ceremony. They also have a time to reflect on what camp has meant to them by presenting a serious skit.
Comments after the skits were “If it weren't for 4-H camp, I wouldn't be the person I am to today,” “4-H camp is a life-changing experience. So thank you for changing my life,” “Camp is my favorite place in the world," and “I love 4-H camp!”
As our 4-H camping season comes to an end, the one thing we hear most from our campers is "I made lots of friends at camp and can’t wait for next year!"
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Bonnie Boyden
Program Management Specialist, 4-H
bboyden@umd.edu
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Maria Barga
Technology Educator
mbarga@umd.edu
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Important Notice from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture | |
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The USDA Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) sent out priority guidance regarding the revised 7 CFR Part 16 “Nine Agency Rule” on July 2, 2024.
The revisions have clarified various provisions regarding notification requirements under the rule, which reestablishes important religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social services (all extension programs).
Read the notice below and know your rights.
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Feel free to contact our staff with any questions
or ideas you have to help make our community better.
Please send an email to jcrawfo4@umd.edu or visit our website.
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University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact us at (301) 226-7500. | | | | |
