September is National Food Safety Education Month

Every year, one in six people in America gets a foodborne illness. The good news is most foodborne illnesses are preventable.

Practicing good food safety is in everyone’s best interest, but it is especially important for pregnant women. Read more

Wait, you don't live on a farm? Dispelling myths about 4-H

Many know that 4-H develops youth through the handling and showing of livestock. Fewer know that 4-H is also an opportunity to explore STEM programs, woodworking, environmental conservation, as well as foods and nutrition among a whole host of other options. Read More

September 2023 Personal Financial Check In

The latter part of the year is when many companies offer open enrollment for health insurance. Medicare and Marketplace open enrollments also happen during the fall months.

September is the time to review your current policy and benefit options to ensure that your plan can meet your future needs.

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6 Tips to Continue Living Safely at Home

Falls impact a person’s quality of life, whether they result in injury or not. In most cases, falling can be prevented through home modifications, health checkups, and self-care. Stay safe with these tips!

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Building Effective Community Board Leadership Skills

Informed and committed board members are the key to healthy, effective boards and committees in our Johnson County communities. It is vital that board members do all they can to prepare themselves to be effective board members. 

Later this fall we are conducting an online training series for members of community-based boards. Learn more

September Gardening Notes

• Plant lettuce, spinach, and radish. A more extensive list can be found in the Kansas Garden Guide at S51 Kansas Garden Guide.
• Herbs can be dug from the garden and placed in pots for indoor use
• Pick apples and pears and store in a cool place to extend freshness
• Enrich the soil by adding organic matter such as compost

View the complete September gardening calendar

Sunset Garden Update

A late July potato harvest sent the yearly total from the Sunset Garden to over ONE TON of produce for the season, with many more hundreds of pounds anticipated as fall crop harvests ramp up. With these plants currently growing to size, soon kale, more cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, and bok choy will be the big producers throughout autumn. Residual tomatoes and peppers will grow through the first freeze.

Visit the next Pop-Up Farmers Market!

Over 75 Johnson County community members stopped by the Sunset Garden for the first Pop-Up Donation-Based Farmers Market of 2023. Here, they took home a multitude of goodies from the garden and donated what they could toward garden operations. The Extension Master Food Volunteers, also in attendance, demonstrated easy tortilla chip, salsa, and blackberry water recipes utilizing the garden produce.

The day’s festivities were even publicized city-wide, as Channel 9 News stopped by for a brief segment.

Mark your calendars now… the next Pop-Up Market is slated for September 26!

Additional garden volunteers are always welcome to come and support the cause. Work sessions are Tuesdays from 7:30 to 10:30 AM. Learn more

September is the most important month for cool season lawns. It is the ideal time to overseed bare patches and fertilize to promote new growth after a long hot summer.

Species Highlight: Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Have you noticed more cottontail rabbits in your neighborhood this year?

According to local biologists, the rabbit population in Johnson County is high this year. Why would that be? 

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Party on the Prairie!

The Johnson County Extension Master Naturalists, in association with Monarch Watch, are hosting a free, family-friendly event to say "hasta luego" to the magnificent Monarch butterfly!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

9 AM to 2 PM

Pollinator Prairie, 320 S. Blake in Olathe, KS

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Saturday's Spotlight on Extension event a success!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center this past weekend for Spotlight on Extension, the Johnson County Extension Foundation's annual fundraiser. We had a terrific time and raised funds for Extension programs in the county.

Watch this video to learn about the Foundation's good work here in Johnson County.

Thank you, JCEEF Members!!

Support from our members helps to extend Kansas State University’s Land Grant mission of providing researched, scientific and relevant information into the hands of Johnson County residents. Memberships are $50 for individual or $90 for a family. Learn more about JCEEF Membership here.