Pine Community Connector
Oct 2023
Welcome to the Pine Community Connector
Congratulations to Pine County 4-H Youth Development Educator Sarah Odendahl!
Last week Pine County Extension's Sarah Odendahl was honored as part of the Northeast Region Anti-Racism Collective leadership with the Dean's Distinguished Diversity Team Award.
Through regular conversation and learning, the Northeast Region Anti-Racism Collective leadership team in the Department of Youth Development contributes to a department-wide goal of increased cultural competency. The group’s meetings focus on shared learning and development around anti-racism in youth development practice. In addition to monthly Zoom sessions, the team provides deeper training and development at in-person retreats held twice per year. The group began meeting in 2020 and has expanded its impact since then, with anti-racism learning communities now working in all five Youth Development regions. This group’s model also contributed to the Department of Youth Development Diversity Equity Inclusion and Accessibility staff development roadmap.
The leadership group includes Courtney Johnson, Katie Ecklund and Tracey Anderson, Sarah Odendahl, Hailey Eidenshink and Jan Derdowski.
Pine County Extension congratulates Sarah Odendahl and her team on their award and their continued efforts and contributions within the Department of Youth Development.
National 4-H Week
Join us October 1-7 to celebrate National 4-H Week! Keep up with Minnesota 4-H on social media, and check out our events on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Tuesday, October 3 - Invite your friends to check out 4-H at the Open House from 6:30-7:30pm. This event will be held at the Hinckley-Finlayson High School Community Ed rooms. No registration required. Find more information at extension.umn.edu/event/pine-county-4-h-open-house
- Wednesday, October 4 - Wear it Wednesday! Wear your 4-H gear, then snap a pic of you (and your friends!). Share your pic in the comments of our Facebook post, or tag @pine4h on Instagram, and be entered to win a prize.
Cloverbud Saturday October 14th
It's pumpkin time! Join us in October to dig into some pumpkins while we learn about this fruit (yes, fruit!) you can find in the fall. Pumpkin crafts, pumpkin treats, and pumpkin projects are waiting for you!
Who: Cloverbuds Grades K-2
When: October 14, 2023 from 9:30-11am
Where: Hinckley Community Room (106 1st Street S.E., Hinckley, MN)
Cost: Free
Register now at z.umn.edu/PineCloverbuds
Questions? Contact Sarah Odendahl, Pine County 4-H Extension Educator, at sodendah@umn.edu or 320-591-1654
4-H State Show Results
Congratulations to the 27 Pine County youth who participated in state and regional showcases!
4-H Virtual After School
Little Tips for Big Design
Tips on planting spring flowering bulbs from Cheryl McHugh, Pine County Master Gardener, and Colorblends.
- Allium foliage typically begins to yellow just as the flower heads take on color. To hide this, plant alliums in a place where the browning will be hidden by leaves of other plants.
- If you have a spot in your garden reserved for annuals, consider planting tulips and hyacinths there for spring color. Many people treat them as annuals since the first year is the best show.
- When planting small bulbs, place multiple bulbs in each hole. One Colorblender recommends planting by the handful to save time and energy.
- Accent midseason tulips with Grape Hyacinths. The smaller bulb acts as a foil for the larger tulips, turning a nice display into an extraordinary display.
- When planting bulbs in the fall, wait until you have cut back your perennials. This will make it easier to find space to plant, and the bulbs will come up before the perennials in the spring.
- Planting in the lawn can create a naturalized look. When planting in turf, consider arrange in no particular pattern to give the illusion that the bulbs have simply sprung up on their own.
For more information on spring bulbs, soil preparation, and planting visit extension.umn.edu/how/planting-bulbs-tubers-and-rhizomes
Real Life, Good Food Website & SNAP-Ed
Real Life, Good Food is a great food recipe and health resource offered by the University of Minnesota Extension SNAP-ed. The website offers information regarding healthy eating tips, good nutrition, cooking, food resources, physical activity, and a variety of recipes. Check out some breakfast recipes that are perfect for the fall season like Apple Slice Pancakes and Cheesy Egg & Veggie Bake at Real Life, Good Food: reallifegoodfood.umn.edu/.
Fall Delights at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Calling all Scarecrows!
Scarecrows in the Garden adds a festive note to the Arboretum's autumn displays on Dahlberg Terrace and Scarecrow Hill. Delight in scarecrow artistry from experts at Bachman's, Arboretum staff, and members of the community!
Scarecrows in the Garden is an exhibit offered daily through Oct 31st. Reservations required. Visit arb.umn.edu/events/gardenscarecrows for registration and more information!
Enjoy an evening at the Arboretum under the glow of the full October Moon on Saturday, October 28th from 6:30pm - 9:30pm. Stroll the self-guided hike along Three-Mile Walk, which will be illuminated with tealights. Along the way, stop at the Sculpture Garden to experience a sweeping, panoramic view of the night sky from the highest point in the Arboretum. Programming at the Sculpture Garden will include:
- Telescopes sighted in on noteworthy celestial objects, as well as astronomy knowledge, provided by the MN Astronomical Society
- Evening access to the Dakota Sacred Hoop Walk
- A full moon intention setting activity
Reservations required. Visit arb.umn.edu/fullmoonhikes for registration link and more information!
Ag Update from Katie Hagen
Making Jams, Jellies, and Marmalades
Have you ever wondered what the difference between jams, marmalades, preserves, and conserves were? These products differ in gel consistency, ingredients, and how the fruit is prepared. All of them are easy to make at home too!
Jams are made from crushed or ground fruit and usually have a thick consistency due to high pectin content.
Marmalade is a jelly with pieces of fruit suspended in it. Citrus peel and juice are frequently the basis of marmalade.
Preserves contain whole fruit or small pieces of fruit in a thick sugar syrup.
Conserves are jams made from a mixture of fruits. They usually contain citrus fruit, nuts and raisins.
If you are thinking about trying a recipe for making these at home, you'll find that most recipes have the same main ingredients, at differing amounts. The recipes always start with fruit, which gives the jam or jelly the flavor you desire. There is also natural pectin in fruit, but typically additional pectin is added when using strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. Acid is also important for the gelatin thickening in jams and marmalades. This is why some recipes call for lemon juice or other citrus juices to be added. Sugar is the preservative that adds sweetness in flavor and aids in gel formation.
Once you find a recipe to your liking, it's important to follow that recipe fully for the safety of those who will enjoy it. Deviating from it can cause potentially harmful effects to human health.
If nutrition is at the forefront of your mind, then it is important to know that because of high sugar content, jams, marmalades, preserves and conserves are mainly a source of calories. One level tablespoon of these products contains 55 to 70 calories and should be used sparingly by people concerned about controlling their weight or sugar intake.
There are a couple different ways to make jams. The first and most common way is canning, but there are also freezer jams. When processing and canning your jams or preserves, make sure to check the current guidelines for best practices. My family has always used wax as a second seal on for our jams and jellies, but that is no longer recommended (see note below). Freezer jams are most commonly made with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and rhubarb. Some people prefer freezer jam because it is less firm than cooked jam but has more of a fresh-fruit taste.
Either way, best of luck on preserving your harvest this fall!
*Note: Paraffin wax is no longer recommended for sealing jars. Paraffin does not form a complete seal and does not protect against mold growth and toxin production in jelly. The process is a potential health risk.
Counting Sheep on the Farm: Healthy Sleep Tips
Since there are always so many things to get done on the farm, it can be hard to get healthy sleep. Sleeping too little, too long, or experiencing other sleep problems like struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep can leave farmers feeling exhausted. This can make mistakes or injuries more likely to happen.
Adults who get less than 7.5 hours of sleep per night are over twice as likely to be injured. Operating machinery while drowsy from poor sleep can be very dangerous. Drowsiness can make it harder to pay attention to the road and make safe, quick decisions. Ongoing sleep problems can increase the likelihood of developing health conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mental health symptoms.
When you are sleepy, it is harder to make quick, safe decisions. Plan ahead to sleep well by adding the tips below during your day and night to get better sleep! Check out more agricultural safety and health resources at umash.umn.edu!
Soil Testing: Get a Head Start on Next Year's Gardening
We typically think of soil testing in the spring when we are preparing our gardens and yards for planting. While the University of Minnesota Soil Testing Lab staff work hard to return results within two weeks, more tests mean results can take longer — sometimes up to three weeks during the spring rush.
Keith Piotrowski, research manager of the Soil Testing Lab, recommends fall soil testing. The lab has a smaller backlog of samples to test, the results are just as accurate, and you can be ready for planting as soon as the soil thaws. Fall soils can be drier than spring soil and not frozen, so digging a good sample is easier. A basic soil test costs $19.
More information on the benefits of soil testing, how-to, and understanding your soil test can be found on the Extension website. Soil Analysis forms, as well as soil sample collection bags, are available at the Pine County Extension office.
Educational Opportunities
BQA Online Training
When: November 30th
Time: Online training from 7-9 PM
Register: extension.umn.edu/event/bqa-certification-online-3
Extension calendar of events
Contact
Katie Hagen, Ag Educator, 320-591-1662
Kristin Riley, SNAP-Ed Educator, 320-591-1656
Terry Salmela, Master Gardener Coordinator, 320-591-1653
Joanna Gechas, Administrative Assistant, 320-591-1651
D. Craig Taylor, Interim NE Regional Director
Email: mnext-pine@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/local/pine
Location: 635 Northridge Drive Northwest, Pine City, MN, USA
Phone: 320-591-1650
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt
Twitter: @UMNExt