Ag Newsletter

The holiday weekend has come to an end, but for many it's the start of summer break. Around our office, summer means fair time! Porter County Fair is July 22-August 1, and we are hustling and bustling to prepare for a fantastic fair! June for me is newsletter time. I just released my first Ag Newsletter, titled Cows, Plows, Sows, & More! I release newsletters quarterly, and encourage everyone to read it to stay up-to-date on events around the county. It is not just for the farmers, but also for the local community and home-owners. You can easily access the newsletter from our Porter County Extension homepage under Ag Newsletters along the left-hand column. www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/porter

COMMUNITY UPDATE:
As of June 1, we concluded our spring Master Gardener course with 28 graduates!! I am currently working on organizing the next Master Gardener class to start in the fall. Stay tuned with updates or visit our website to sign-up.


PLANT PESTS & DISEASES:
Around the office, we have been getting lots of calls about Apple trees and Crabapple trees losing their leaves. Apple Scab is a fungal disease that is common to the Malus genus. If you would like more information about the cause, treatment, resistant varities, etc. please read the Purdue Publication, Apple Scab of Flowering Crabapples, available online. (Source listed below) Other curiosities are about the webs recently seen in trees. Eastern Tent Caterpillars form webs in the crotch angles of most flowering trees. At night, the caterpillars leave the web to feed on the leaves of the trees. To find out more information please read the Purdue Publication, Eastern Tent Caterpillar A Problem Again in 2010, available online. (Source listed below)
Information about common pests and diseases can be found in The Morton Arboretum's Plant Health Care Report. It is a weekly report available online. (Source listed below) This is a great source that provides pictures, facts, and tips about what you should be aware of in your own yard and around your community.


Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about Purdue Extension! Help us spread the word and get others to visit our extension website www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/porter and read our blog! We are here as a resource for you and your community.

Source List:
http://www.mortonarb.org/tree-plant-advice/category/97/plant-health-care-reports.html
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP_39_W.pdf
http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/HN-68.pdf
http://www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/porter

Busy As A Bumble Bee!!

Yep, that's me, busy as a bumblebee! I have certainly been out exploring Porter Co. these past few weeks. Many of you have been calling in with questions about your lawns and gardens, which has gotten me out of the office and to your homes to diagnose your problems. I am learning something new everyday, and loving every minute of it!
I am currenlty working on a photo album of places I've been, and things I've been doing around the county. Hopefully, that will be posted soon for all of you to see. Instead of spending time trying to catch you up on all I've been doing, I'm just going to start with what I'm doing this weekend.
LaPorte County is hosting their spring garden show in LaPorte tomorrow from 8-3pm. I will be attending to check out ways we can improve our garden show in Porter Co. I am looking forward to learning more about herb and vegetable gardening from Liz Maynard and other speakers they have throughout the day. After my day of fun & learning, my husband and I are going to make the trek up to Holland, Michigan to check out the famous Tulip Festival. Neither of us have been, so we are very excited about the tulips, the events, food, and camping! Don't worry, there will be lots of pictures to document our trip.
Enjoy over half a million tulips in City parks, public areas, and along City streets. Premier tulip plantings at Window on the Waterfront and Centennial Park. Tulip Lanes start on 12th St & River Ave, where six miles of tulips in brilliant array line Holland’s streets.


Other happenings and news that has enhanced my life is my adventure in finding local food. Since I have been meeting farmers in Porter Co. I have found great food sources for my everyday needs. I am so proud of Porter Co. for making it possible for residents to buy almost all they need from local farmers instead of the grocery store. I get so giddy when I go to the farm, and talk with the family that is producing my food. It is so rewarding to know that the money I am spending is supporting families in my county. Plus, the food is amazing! Not one complaint from me. I have been shopping at Sanders Dairy Farm Market, and Birky Country Farm Market. I have been buying raw milk (un-pasteurized & un-homogenized), Valpo velvet ice cream, amish butter, noodles, eggs, honey, cheese, Birky pork & beef, pies and more! My fruits and vegetables are coming from a CSA with J-N-J Organic Farm, local Farmer's Markets, and local orchards. I encourage all of my readers to check out these farms, and test the local food, you won't be disappointed. If you just want a taste of country, visit Birky Farms, just south on SR.49, on Fridays and Saturdays for lunch from 11-1pm. I have been going every Friday to try a new slice of pie each week. So far, my favorite is the Very Berry pie!
We should have a local food movement, and see how many people we can get on board to support our community and have a healthier lifestyle!