www.agrinews-pubs.com | ILLINOIS AGRINEWS | Friday, May 1, 2020
A7
Lifestyle
Vegetable gardening underway Throughout the state, vegetable gardening has begun in a variety of ways. Vegetable gardening starts out first in southern Richard Illinois and does the “staHentschel dium wave” northward University until we hit of Illinois the IllinoisExtension Wisconsin border. Northern Illinois has a limited growing season compared to southern Illinois, with central Illinois in a range in between. Records show there is approximately four weeks difference in sowing seed or putting in transplants of the same vegetable in Illinois when discussing traditional in-the-ground vegetable gardening. So, gardening in southern Illinois could start as early as March 10-25, while northern Illinois gardeners have to hang on until April 10-25 to start their gardens. Gardeners base when they get to sow seed or put in transplants on the weather, of course, and not strictly the date, which is more of a guideline. Soil temperatures are the key and that will vary by soil type. Dark soils warm up sooner than lighter soils. Lighter soils may dry sooner, though, and allow gardeners to get into the garden earlier. Once our gardens are planted, successive plantings can be done to have those fresh veggies on the dinner table throughout the growing season. Gardeners will replant those early spring radishes and lettuces with snap beans, beets or maybe carrots if your season is long enough. With more days to grow with in southern Illinois, it is easier to get those three gardens we hear about – spring, summer and fall – completed. Gardeners up north will begin the summer garden while the spring garden has not finished and the same goes for the fall garden, making space in the summer garden. Gardening can be done in a variety of ways, including raised-bed gardening, container gardening, bag-culture and straw-bale gardening, and wherever the imagination takes you. Good gardening, everyone. Richard Hentschel is a University of Illinois Extension educator.
New Family Learning Challenge helps curb the distancing blues BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – With everyone social distancing, many people are starting to get restless. But what if we used this time to grow closer to our families? The University of Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties is hosting its first ever Family Learning Challenge – a no-cost, complete-at-your-ownpace challenge which can be done from home, all while social distancing. “We wanted to create something that is no stress, fun for the whole family, and unique” said Anthony Warmack, 4-H program coordinator in Will County. “With everyone at home, it can be easy to let boundaries collide and become overwhelmed.” The challenge, delivered every other day by email, will contain a variety of original videos put together by community members and youth leaders. The introduction video, created by U of I Extension 4-H program staff, gives a few examples of the content: Starting a business, 3D printing, giving back to the community from your own home, starting a family tree, and so much more. The challenge itself is designed to be fun for the whole family, Warmack said. “School or work can easily dominate our social distancing time and, for many families, that can be stressful. We wanted to create something fun that the whole family can enjoy.” Your family can start the challenge at anytime by visiting go.illinois.edu/FamilyChallenge. Those who complete all challenges by June will receive prizes. If you have any questions, email warmacka@illinois.edu.
Q&A: EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS
How to start your own seeds By Amy Moore-McKee
Julie Henderson, First Baptist Food Pantry manager, stands next to a display at the pantry. U of I Extension SNAP-Ed staff helped revamp the layout and shopping experience at the food pantry in Canton.
Food pantry offers grocery store shopping experience CANTON, Ill. – While the goal of food pantries is always to provide food to all in need, it also is important to provide it in such a way that helps guests feel welcome and in control. First Baptist Church Food Pantry in Canton recently converted its layout, policies, and visuals to give guests a shopping experience that more closely resembles a grocery store. University of Illinois E x t en s ion Supplement a l Nutrition Assistance ProgramEducation staff were part of the team of supporters to make this new format a reality. Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit SNAP-Ed instructor Krista Gray has provided nutrition education to the food pantry guests for the past couple of years. More recently, Kaitlyn Streitmatter, educator, and Rebecca Crumrine, program coordinator, connected with the new pantry manager, Julie Henderson, to help her achieve her ideas for how to enhance the work already being done at the pantry. “We provided guidance on set up and offered visuals and what we call ‘nudges,’” Crumrine said. “We recommend using ‘nudges’ to help
guests select healthier food items. When we place healthier items earlier in line, bundle food items that go together in a recipe next to each other, separate the shopping experience by food group, and use visuals like bright colored posters and shelf labels, shoppers are more likely to select and eat healthier foods.” “My goal is to feed the body, soul, and spirit of our patrons through our food pantry ministry,” Henderson said. “Julie was passionate about the project and worked to make this vision a reality,” Crumrine said. “She reached out to others in the community to join the effort.” Layout of the entire pantry was updated through work by the First Baptist Church, in addition to the purchase of shopping carts. Shelves were donated by Graham Hospital, and Dollar General donated additional shopping carts. At the end of January, First Baptist Church of ficially changed to a client-choice, shopping-style pantry. This format benefits both the pantry and the guests. Pantries can identify and meet the guests needs, reduce overhead and food waste, build a stronger
bond with the guests, and even help to nudge healthier items through placement and visuals. Guests can preserve their dignity as they get to choose their foods as well as select items they need to help manage health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, intolerances and allergies. SNAP-Ed continues to work with First Baptist Church Food Pantry in the form of nutrition education to the clients, further guidance on the pantry, and additional resources such as signage. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap, Fulton County has a higher than normal food insecurity rate. Open every Monday, First Baptist Church Food Pantry in Canton plays an instrumental role in addressing the needs of local families. It serves an average of 225 households weekly through their pantry, helps the new Canton High School Pantry, and packs buddy bags for the Canton elementary schools. To learn more about programs offered by University of Illinois Extension, upcoming events, and educational information visit web.extension.illinois.edu/fmpt.
Worm composting a DIY spring project DECATUR, Ill. — DIY projects are a great way to welcome spring. Have you ever considered worm composting or vermicomposting? One pound of worms — about 500 worms — can eat between one-half and one pound of food waste per day and can double in population in a month if they have sufficient food, water and shelter. Vermipost is mostly worm waste referred to as “castings” and compared to ordinary soil contains five to 11 times more plant-available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It is a mild organic fertilizer that is safe for your plants. “Worm composting is a great way for you to recycle fruit and vegetable waste from your kitchen,” said Doug Gucker, University of Illinois Extension local foods and small farms educator. “Another great thing about this type of composting is that it can be done year-round.” The best worms for vermicomposting are red worms, brandling worms, and European nightcrawlers, Gucker said. These earthworms are surface dwellers, which means they will live in the upper layers of rich, organic matter in piles of decaying litter. They do not burrow like some common earthworms found in backyards.
When is a good time to start seeds? Now. Early spring is the time to start hardy seeds outside, and more tender plants indoors. Where can I get seeds? You can purchase seeds from garden centers, hardware stores, some grocery stores, online, and even at some food banks. Your neighbor might even have some that he would share. Can I use leftover seeds? If the seeds are only a year old, they are still likely viable. If they are older than that, germination rates will likely be lower. What kinds of seeds can I start now? If you are sowing outdoor seeds, choose spinach, peas, lettuce, kale, turnips or onions. If you are starting seeds indoors, choose tomatoes, peppers, petunias, marigolds, zinnias or coleus. What do I need? For outdoor sowing, choose a place with well-drained soil, full sun and good drainage. For indoor seeds, you can use any containers such as cardboard egg cartons with the bottoms punched out, plastic clamshells with holes in the bottom or solo cups with the bottoms cut out. Put these on a tray and in a sunny warm place in the house. If a sunny place isn’t available, you can use a shop light. For indoor and outdoor seeds, follow seed pack directions on depth, spacing and watering. What kind of soil do I use for indoor seeds? It’s best to use a medium that is a soilless mixture, which is a seed-starting mixture. Sometimes they come as cubes or seed starting pods. Do I need a heat mat? The best temperature for starting seeds is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating mats are very helpful and effective.
Worm composting is a great way to recycle fruit and vegetable waste from your kitchen. Vermicomposting worms also can survive in temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees, but prefer between 55 and 77 degrees. Small pieces of fruits and vegetables, including peels, ground eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags and small amounts of moistened plain cereal, bread and pasta are ideal foods for worms, Gucker said. Foods to avoid include meat, poultry, dairy products, oils and strongly flavored foods such as garlic and onions. In the beginning, feeding will be by trial and error. The key is to understand the amount of food that the worms can consume in a
week and not overfeed them. Gucker said scraps that are placed in the bin should be buried in the worm bedding. This will help to reduce odor and keep from attracting insects. Varying the location of the food also will help avoid pockets of excess waste. Even though worms eat approximately half their body weight in food each day, it is easy to overwhelm them and cause problems for you. To learn how to build an indoor vermicomposter, visit the blog Know How, Know More at https://extension. illinois.edu/blogs/know-howknow-more.
Document family history in writing workshop URBANA, Ill. – Family stories are gifts from one generation to the next. Keep those stories alive with a little help from the Life’s Moments — From Memory to Legacy writing workshop launching May 5. In this fun and interactive virtual series, the University of Illinois Extension Family Life team will help you document your life story with writing prompts, exercises to trigger memories, and breakout ses-
It’s spring, and the University of Illinois Extension master gardeners are here to help you with your gardening questions. Many of us will be home this spring, and what better way to be outside, stay healthy and enjoy the results of your work than to get outside and work on your garden. Today, we’ll answer some common questions about starting seeds at home.
sions. “It’s kind of like a quilt,” said Chelsey Byers, Illinois Extension family life educator and workshop presenter. “By the end of the series, you will have a bunch of quilt pieces done and lots of ideas to continue writing.” While people are practicing physical distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, sharing stories can keep families connected, Byers said. Technology makes historical information
available with the click of a button, but many adults don’t know their own family history. No prior writing experience is needed. Participants will write at their own pace using whatever tools they prefer, pen and paper or a computer. This eight-session virtual workshop is free and will take place 11 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays starting May 5. Register at tinyurl. com/yabbo4v2.
How much should I water? Consistent watering is very important for young seedlings; however, too much watering is not good, either. Water so that the soil medium stays consistently moist, and does not dry out. How much light do seeds need? New seedlings need 12-16 hours of light per day. An automatic timer is useful if you are using a grow light. Grow lights should be 6-12 inches above the leaves, so as the seedlings grow, the light will need to be adjusted to maintain that distance. How do I get my seedlings ready for transplant? You should “harden” your seedlings by putting them outside for a few hours each day and bringing them in at night. Extend the outside time gradually until all danger of frost is past, usually around May 15, for instance, in north central Illinois. When can I transplant my seedlings outdoors? Most seed packages list the growing time needed before transplant. Even if you can’t provide all the time required, you can still transplant them as smaller plants. Email your gardening questions to meo@illinois.edu. Be sure to put “Gardening Question” in the subject line. Happy gardening! Amy Moore-McKee is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener, Bureau, La Salle, Marshall, Putnam Unit.
