In This Issue ~
- From the Desk of Shelley King-Curry, Southern Area Extension Director
- Need help with digital technology? We are here for you!
- It's off to 4-H camp we go!
- Raising broilers for market
- "H" is for Hippology
- "S" is for Sewing
- Get your fresh produce at the Farmers Markets
- Try these yummy, easy seasonal recipes
- Hundreds attend NatureFest at Tilghman Lake
- Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage visits La Plata
- Demo gardens thrive at Extension
- Tree saplings find new homes
- Help save our waterways and Bay!
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Greetings from UME – Charles
Hello Spring! Yes, we had a relatively mild winter, but seeing all the flowering trees and enjoying the longer daylight hours is very welcomed! Please read on and enjoy our newsletter highlighting some of our outreach services.
We are extending our impact with the addition of our new Tech Extension Educator, Maria Barga. Through funding received from the American Rescue Plan, UME Extension has hired a tech educator to serve the Southern Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s. Maria’s role is to develop and implement local programs to educate residents on a range of issues related to digital literacy and to provide resources to help residents navigate programs promoting access to the internet. We see this as an exciting opportunity to reach the underserved in the area of technology education and internet access in the county. Maria can be reached at mbarga@umd.edu or 240-736-4715.
Kaitlyn Baligush left us as our Home Horticulture Educator to go to the Home and Garden Information Center in Ellicott City as their new Program Management Specialist for the Master Gardener Program. Congratulations and best wishes, Kaitlyn!
And, finally, we bid farewell to our 4-H Youth Development Educator this month. Amy Lang accepted the educator position with Queen Anne’s Extension Office. She had a tremendously positive impact with her educational programs, emphasizing the benefits of nature on our well-being, and getting to know the trees, plants, and pollinators in our forests and back yards. Congratulations and best wishes, Amy!
Let’s continue to look forward to the renewal that spring brings and seek opportunities to grow and enjoy with UME Extension. We especially appreciate your support and will continue to bring the best services to everyone in the community.
Shelley
Shelley T. King-Curry, MS
University of Maryland Extension
Area Extension Director -
Southern Maryland Cluster
Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties
9501 Crain Highway, Box 1
Bel Alton, MD 20611
skingcur@umd.edu
301-934-5403, Ext. 300
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Story-Telling with PowerPoint at Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland
Maria Barga
Tech Extension Educator
mbarga@umd.edu
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Students from the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland at Calvert Elementary School got to spend time learning how to tell stories through the use of PowerPoint. |
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Calvert County Public Libraries are partnering with Tech Extension this summer and going forward into the fall to host a series of Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) sign-up events and Digital Skills Classes.
The Digital Skills Summer Class Schedule:
Each class is open to the public and will be held twice each day at 10:00 am-12:00 noon and 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.
Location: Calvert County Public Library, 850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
- June 15 - Browser Basics Using Google Chrome
- July 11 - Exploring Google Docs
- August 14 - Digital Culture
- August 28 - Money Basics
- September 5 - Job search
If you are an organization interested in hosting Digital Skills Classes, please contact Maria at mbarga@umd.edu or call 240-736-4715.
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Maria Barga
Tech Educator
mbarga@umd.edi
240-736-4715
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The 4-H program in Charles County offers many opportunities for kids from 5 to 18. Below are some of the most recent accomplishments. Check out our calendar for the complete list and descriptions of the ongoing projects.
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4-H Leaders Prepare for Summer Camps
Bonnie Boyden
4-H Program Management Specialist
bboyden@umd.edu
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Charles County 4-H teens have just completed 25 hours of training preparing them for our day and overnight camps. The 4-H program builds on young people's leadership skills to help them feel they are contributing to their community. These skills are essential and continue to develop through our camp leadership training.
The leadership training strengthens teen leaders' sense of identity, belief in the future, self-regulation, and self-efficacy as well as their social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral competence. They work together as a group to create a vision for the camps and how to inspire others to achieve it. At the end of our training the teens feel confident in being able to delegate tasks, build trust, and handle conflict.
4-H uses the Essential Elements of Youth Development – Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity. We are excited to have so many new and returning teens serving in a leadership role at camp where they will create a welcoming environment.
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Photo credits: Bonnie Boyden |
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One of the activities the teens learn is how to keep all the balls in the air when serving in a leadership role. This is important when you are the leader of 12 youth ages 8 to 12. The teens are the spirit of camp and we are all looking forward to the 2023 camping season.
For more information about the Charles County 4-H Camps contact Bonnie at bboyden@umd.edu
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Youth Entrepreneurs Raise Chickens for Market
Jeanne Williams
4-H Program Assistant
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On April 5, 2023, the 4-H office delivered over 300 Cornish Cross broiler chicks to 4-H’ers to begin their broiler projects. These members had to attend an in-person quality assurance training that discussed all the specifics of raising broiler chickens for human consumption. This included nutrition, housing, troubleshooting, and other aspects of raising the birds.
4-H’ers could order chicks through the 4-H Office, with a minimum number being 15. For the next 6 weeks, these chicks were fed, housed, and cared for by the 4-H members and their families. This project is coming to a close in the few weeks, and these 4-H'ers will be marketing their birds with most of them being sold to family and friends.
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The broiler project teaches youth responsibility, empathy, record keeping, and many more important life skills. 4-H’ers will be required to turn in a record sheet that shows the outcome of the project. This also teaches 4-H’ers and their families how to raise food animals to feed themselves or others, which is so important.
We can’t wait to see how these 4-H’ers market their projects and all that they have learned!
Photo credits: Jeanne Williams
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Learning Hippology, from A to Z
Jeanne Williams
4-H Program Assistant
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From the end of March through the middle of June, 4-H members have been coming together to learn all about the horse project and horse industry through Hippology.
In Hippology, members learn feed types, breeds, equipment, plants, external parts, skeletal parts, digestive system, and so much more. These members practice for about 2 hours each week and some will attend the state contest in June.
The seniors who place in the top five are eligible to represent Maryland at the National Hippology Contest in Louisville, KY, in November.
Good luck to our members!!
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Photo credits: Jeanne Williams |
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Sewing for Self and Service
Jeanne Williams
4-H Program Assistant
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From January until May, 4-H members have joined in sewing workshops, with a different project each month. In January, members made zipper bags; March they made stuffed animals; April was pillowcases; and in May, the members made pajama shorts.
April’s project was extremely special because it housed a community service project along with learning how to sew a pillowcase. Each member made one pillowcase to go to a homeless shelter and made another pillowcase for them to take home.
Many 4-H members joined in all of these activities which were spread throughout the days of the week, allowing opportunity for other members to join in.
Stop by our building during the County Fair in September to see all of these projects on display!!
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Photo credits: Jeanne Williams |
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It's Farmers Market Season! |
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3000 Festival Way, Waldorf, MD
Saturdays 10am to 2:00 pm
Pop Up and Grow
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209 Washington Ave, La Plata
Wednesdays and Saturdays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Accepts SNAP/EBT and FMNP, and doubles your benefit dollars with MD Market Money
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Looking for some yummy ways to enjoy spring produce? Check out SNAP-Ed’s recipe bank for lots of delicious and easy recipes!
Here are a few recipes to highlight the superstars of spring - strawberries and asparagus!
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Ingredients:
1 graham cracker, broken in half
2 Tablespoons low-fat vanilla yogurt
2 strawberries, washed and sliced
Directions:
- Spread yogurt on top of one graham cracker half.
- Place strawberries on top.
- Top with other graham cracker half.
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Ingredients:
4 cups spinach or salad greens, washed and dried.
1 cup strawberries, washed and sliced, or orange segments
¼ cup nuts, chopped
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon honey
Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Remove tough stems from spinach.
- In a large bowl, mix spinach or greens, fruit, and nuts.
- In a small bowl, mix oil, lemon juice, and honey to make dressing.
- Pour the dressing on top of the salad and mix.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 5
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Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus, washed and ends removed
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line up asparagus on baking tray. Using pastry brush or paper towel, brush the olive oil on each piece and turn lightly to coat the asparagus.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes or until tender.
- Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Serves 6
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Ingredients:
¼ cup balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar or honey
Pinch salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder or ½ teaspoon minced garlic
¾ pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces, cooked and drained
1 (4 ounce) feta-cheese, crumbled
1 large tomato, diced
1 green onion, diced
2 Tablespoons cilantro, chopped (optional)
Directions:
- Whisk together vinegar, sugar, salt, and olive oil in a salad bowl.
- Add the asparagus, feta, tomato, green onion, and cilantro (optional) to the bowl.
- Toss to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate for an hour before serving.
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Jessica Conjour, MPH
Project Leader and Nutrition Educator
Maryland SNAP-Ed
jconjour@umd.edu
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NatureFest 2023 is a Wrap!
Marlene Smith
Master Gardener Volunteer
Earth Day on Saturday, April 22, was a beautiful day for NatureFest, despite the wind and approaching rainstorm (which held off until we were leaving). We had a record crowd of over three hundred participants in our third year participating in this community event, hosted by the Neighborhood Creative Arts Center (NCAC) at Tilghman Lake Park in La Plata.
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Charles County Master Gardeners and interns offered activities for kids of all ages. Learning the parts of a plant, creating self-watering planters, growing hairy caterpillars (a new favorite), making fireflies (another new favorite), and planting seed cups were enjoyed by all. |
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Three new demonstrations on planting a potato basket, growing sweet potatoes from slips, and growing food from kitchen scraps were huge successes. Learning about vermicomposting (including taking home red wriggler starter cups) and Bess beetles were also a hit. Matching boards, photo boards (monarch and praying mantis), and outreach displays rounded out our offerings.
Photo credits: Marlene Smith
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Tour Highlights Christ Church Gardens
Terry Thir
Master Gardener Volunteer
Charles County was selected as part of the 2023 Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage. This annual event helps to preserve and support the restoration of architecturally and historically significant properties throughout the State. One site included a visit to the Christ Church in La Plata, where many years ago, Master Gardeners helped plant a native pollinator meditation garden.
On April 29, MGs set-up an educational booth, led tours of the native pollinator gardens and shared horticultural information.
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Photo credits: Terry Thir |
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Demonstration Gardens Expand at Extension
Terry Thir
Master Gardener Volunteer
Master Gardeners have installed five gardens at the Charles County Extension Office. The gardens commemorate the Bel Alton High School building with Maryland Historic Garden, a Bay-Wise garden, a garden for native pollinators, and container and spiral herb gardens.
Designed in 2019, these gardens are now flourishing, with more gardens to be added. The goal is to promote planting native plants and shrubs to provide food and habitat for pollinators.
The Bay-Wise garden showcases drought resistant plants that provide beauty and shelter for wildlife. Educational garden tours will be offered in 2024.
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Photo Credits: Terry Thir |
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Bay-Wise Landscape Management |
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Backyard Buffers Program was a BIG Hit!
Rose Markham
Master Gardener Volunteer
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Our first Bay-Wise activity of the season was our Backyard Buffers Program. On Saturday, April 15, we were busy as “bees” distributing about 130 “buffers in a bag” to many Charles County homeowners who signed up for the program in January. They were offered a small bundle of nine seedlings containing a mixture of buttonbush, persimmon, swamp white oak and sycamore.
During the day, Terry Thir and Kathy Jenkins gave tours of the native pollinator gardens at Extension and talked about the importance of planting native flowers and shrubs to provide food and shelter for insects, birds, and wildlife.
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A partnership between the Maryland Forest Service and the Potomac Watershed designed the program to assist homeowners in planting trees and shrubs to create a streamside buffer on or adjacent to a waterway. This buffer zone provides habitat for wildlife; reduces sediment, fertilizer, and other toxic chemicals from entering the waterways while stabilizing riverbanks; and helps to prevent erosion.
This was our second year distributing the tree bundles, and the Forest Service provided the seedlings. We had a great response from homeowners and are counting on providing this service every year.
Photo credits: Rose Markham
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Become a Bay-Wise Certified Homeowner! |
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We are excited about participating in events to promote the Bay-Wise Certificate program administered by the University of Maryland Extension and the Master Gardeners.
The Bay-Wise program promotes environmentally sound landscape practices to protect our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. We provide an easy-to-use yardstick as a tool to do a self-assessment of your property prior to your scheduling an onsite certification. Once certified you receive a Bay-Wise sign, a certificate and are eligible for the real estate tax credit. Our goal is to train all our master gardeners so they can go into the community and certify other homeowner properties.
Charles County offers a 50% Storm Water Remediation fee credit for Bay-Wise certified properties that is included in your property taxes . The fee is $127 for 2023, giving you a savings of $63.50 on your tax bill, and the credit is applied each calendar year.
Check out the links to acquaint yourself with the certification process and a list of practices you are already using. The yardstick and application are fillable PDFs and can be found on our Bay-Wise website.
1. Download the appropriate MD Yardstick along with an application:
3. When you finish the application, forward it via email to Rose Markham at rosemarkham38@gmail.com. She will contact you to schedule a visit by our Bay-Wise team.
Thank you!
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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) 934-5403.
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