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January-February, 2022
Volume 3, Issue 1
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Working to improve lives, communities, the environment, and economies throughout Pima County. |
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4-H Looks Forward to a Great Spring
In January, we reached the halfway mark for this 4-H year. Currently, Pima County has 579 enrolled youth and 120 certified volunteers. Many youths participate in multiple Pima 4-H projects and this year we have 825 agriculture project participants, 19 civic engagement project participants, and 82 healthy living project participants. Even though these numbers are down since pre-pandemic, we are excited for several positive areas of growth. Our use of Zoom for project and committee meetings has grown, extending the geographic reach and accessibility of many projects across the county. Commercial production projects have grown in demand due to the culture of self-sustainability that has reemerged during the pandemic. 4-H projects, events, and curriculum have moved to more efficient and sustainable digital solutions that have changed the future of our program for the better.
We are looking forward to some great events this Spring including the I “heart” Pygmy’s Show on February 12, the Rabbit and Cavy Classic on March 5, and the 4-H Dog Quad educational contest on March 19. You can learn about them on our website and on our Pima 4-H Facebook page. The big news is that for the first time since 2019, we are planning an in-person Pima County Fair to be held from April 21 - May 1 at the Pima County Fairgrounds. We anticipate a wonderful 11-day experience where youth can show their animals, participate in equestrian competitions, and so much more!
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Director's Note
Flexibility, responsiveness, and impactful work are all things we take pride in here at Pima County Cooperative Extension (PCCE). Our achievements over the last year are gratifying and give us incentives to create more exceptional experiences during 2022. With the rise of omicron, we are taking a nimble approach, pulling back on some activities while growing others. We are nurturing our gardens, employing masks indoors, educating on virtual platforms, and quickly switching back to in-person as soon as health guidance allows. County extension offices offer a rare example of how merged fund sources can provide hands-on continuing education and youth development. As the State’s land grant institution, the University of Arizona administers an expansive effort to bring state, federal, and county government funding together to support UArizona Cooperative Extension faculty and staff, facilities, and programs in each of Arizona’s 15 counties and in tribal lands. Faculty then expand their programs by securing grants, contracts, and donations, while also adding to the national knowledge base by researching, publishing, and engaging professionally with other practitioners. Add to this, the volunteers, community partners, parents, mentors, colleagues, and advisory boards, and you get top-down support combined with grass-roots efforts that enable local implementation. I am very impressed with how well this structure works even in these challenging times. Be assured that we at PCCE will continue to adjust to the moment, communicate clearly, and do our best to fulfill our important mission in Pima County.
Claire Zucker, Director, Pima County Cooperative Extension
Photo: PCCE Office Specialist Sr. Cassie Burruel leads Garden Discovery Days with children from Los Niños del Valle Preschool in Green Valley. The class was funded through a grant from Sprout’s Grocery.
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Get in the Know About Smartscaping
“Spring Fever” comes early for gardeners in Southern Arizona. With our last frost usually occurring in mid-March, it’s never too early to start thinking ahead and there’s no better way to prepare for your spring gardening than by gaining new knowledge and skills. Our Smartscape program is offering a wide range of classes to help you on your way. For residents, we’re offering convenient online classes. Visit the Pima Smartscape Website to learn about and register for upcoming classes such as our Rainwater Harvesting class, (January 29 and March 12). Learn about designing a passive and/or active rainwater catchment system. This class is also required if you’re applying for a Rainwater Harvesting rebate from Tucson Water. Go further and be prepared to take advantage of every drop this Monsoon season by taking our Operating, Maintaining, and Enhancing Your Rainwater Harvesting Systems class. This class is designed for those who already have a rainwater harvesting system and want to learn more about it. For the landscaper in your life, and especially if you are a green industry professional, create an account and register for our free Professional series. Classes are currently hybrid, (in-person or online). We also offer our professional series classes in Spanish and the next series begins March 22.
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Financial Literacy Education
in Pima County and Beyond
The UArizona Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research (TCAI) has a mission to create and deliver research-based educational outreach programs to improve financial literacy and help people make informed financial choices. TCAI provides free financial literacy education in the Tucson area and partners with the Family Engagement Program at PCCE to deliver workshops to families in Pima County. The Take Charge Cats (TCC) is our longest-running program. Established in 2000, TCC provides financial education workshops to middle, high school, and college students. Each semester 12 UArizona undergraduate students are trained to deliver workshops on topics ranging from savings and spending plans to jobs and paychecks. While the workshops are typically offered in classrooms or at after-school programs, they are also available online. TCAI also supports adult financial education through our Building Financial Security workshops and classes in partnership with Cooperative Extension. Early childhood education centers that are interested in borrowing from our library on wheels to help parents teach their young children about money can fill out a financial literacy library interest form to access resources. And, if you want to personally commit to saving more by developing strategies to get out of debt, save for a home, education, retirement, and more, visit our Arizona Saves Pledge site.
Article submitted by Dr. Daniel McDonald, Ph.D., Extension Specialist and Director of the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research at the Norton School of Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Arizona
Photo: UArizona Students conduct a Take Charge Cats activity, teaching financial literacy in fun and engaging ways.
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4-H Tucson Village Farm’s
U-Pick is Back!
After a long Covid hiatus we are opening our garden gates once again and you and your family can come to Tucson Village Farm on Tuesdays from 4 – 6 pm or until dark (whichever comes first) and harvest your own fresh veggies to take home! At Tucson Village Farm, we grow a lot of vegetables and our goal is always to get those vegetables into the mouths of youth and families who come for programs and classes. Often, we have a surplus of vegetables and when that happens we open the farm to the community at large. Everyone is welcome to come to the farm, walk through the rows, get a tour from one of our 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors on how to harvest, and then pick the vegetables you’d like to take home. Each week we post on our TVF Facebook/Instagram page what is available for harvest. As many of you know, Tucson Village Farm has undergone a big expansion into the Healthy Living Campus on Roger Road. However, U-Pick will take place at the “Little” Farm where it has always been at 4210 N. Campbell Ave in front of our Pima County Cooperative Extension main office. If you have any questions please call 621-1006 or email tucsonvillagefarm@gmail.com. Fresh vegetables will be available for the public from January 25 until the end of March. Price is per pound, and we accept cash or credit card.
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New Landscaping at PCCE
Some of you may remember the thick dirt berms that ran along the outside of our PCCE main office located at 4210 N. Campbell Avenue. Installed for energy efficiency, the berms were removed in 2016 when it was discovered that moisture had been seeping through to the building. Interestingly, the sewer cleanout and air conditioning condensate drains were also discovered. Serendipity! In 2018, Eli Nielson, owner of EcoSense Sustainable Landscapes and Smartscape graduate, asked to donate labor and materials for a PCCE rainwater harvesting demonstration garden on the north side of our building. Nick Shipley of Civano Growers donated all plants. And they did it again this past December for the west side of the building! The design harvests and stores thousands of gallons of rainwater that falls on the roof each year, while keeping infiltration areas away from building foundations. It also addresses pedestrian safety as the gardens can handle a monsoon of up to an inch and a half of rain without overflowing onto the sidewalks. The result is a beautiful and nearly self-sufficient landscape that attracts pollinators. Be sure to read the demonstration sign near the bulletin board to learn more!
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Make Your Own
To-go Snacks
Healthy snacks play an important part in boosting our nutrition. Children need snacks for energy to play, grow and learn and adults need snacks for nutrients and energy during the day! For those of you with New Year's resolutions, making your own snacks saves money, and can be healthier for you and your family. The PCCE Community Nutrition Program works with youth and adults across the county to instill great habits like Snacks On The GO! Here are some tips for getting the most of your homemade snacks:
- Focus on nutrients instead of calories
- Create snacks using foods from different food groups
- Consider serving sizes, which will help control calories
- Think about food safety and use icepacks to keep snacks chilled or put a frozen juice box or water bottle in with your food
- Ask children to help choose their favorites and include them in preparing the snack boxes too!
EFNEP Community Nutrition/Healthy for Life Series - Registration
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Plan Your Spring Garden
Even though it's still quite cold outside, now is the perfect time to start planning your spring garden! If done thoroughly, the planning process can really help to ensure your springtime garden is as productive as possible. Here at The Garden Kitchen, we suggest you begin by thinking about where you would like to have your planting area. Do you have easy access to water? Consistent watering will be essential during the hotter months. Will you get enough sunlight in the space that you're considering? Typically, plants need about 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day to reach their full potential. Will you need to protect your garden from animals? This could even be the family dog; they are curious about what is in the garden too! Will you want to add other elements to your gardens like chickens or compost? Where will they be placed? The especially fun part is picking the vegetables that you will grow during the spring season! Consider edibles from the nightshade family, like small tomatoes, eggplants, hot peppers, and herbs like the many varieties of basil.
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Welcome Arshiya Razvi
Tucson Village Farm is thrilled to introduce our new Office Specialist, Arshiya Razvi! A graduate of the University of Arizona, Arshiya has spent most of her professional life working in non-profits serving her local community. Born in India, raised in Chicago, she is a nomad at heart and lived in many places including Tucson during her undergraduate years, on a small farm near Dallas, Texas, in Istanbul, Turkey, and in an RV throughout the US. It was her love for Tucson that eventually brought her back here in early 2021 with her husband and three kids. Missing the farm life, she joined TVF as a farmer's apprentice in the summer of 2021, and the sense of fulfillment and belonging she found here led her to join the FARMily as the Office Specialist. Besides fruits and veggies, she enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her loved ones.
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Welcome Andrhetta Jaeger
We are very happy to introduce Office Specialist Andrhetta Jaeger, who joined our team in November of last year. Andrhetta grew up in Douglas, Arizona before moving to Tucson and beginning her career. She
loves organizing and improving efficiencies and we are now the happy beneficiaries of these talents. She hit the ground running at the end of last year when she put together a lovely holiday party and décor in addition to all her other tasks including a myriad of public inquiry responses. When not working, she loves music and playing with her two sweet dogs, Mia and Nia.
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Welcome Stephanie Brennan
Pima County 4-H is excited to welcome Stephanie Brennan to the team. Stephanie is an Arizona native and a graduate of Arizona State University. She’s been with Extension since November 2020 working with the Pima EFNEP team and is now switching gears to join the 4-H team as an administrative assistant. Stephanie has two cats and a dog and in her free time, she loves to do any type of arts and crafts.
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UArizona Pima County Cooperative Extension
Programs and Upcoming Events
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Agriculture and Natural Resources
Residents and growers have ready access to research-based horticultural information at PCCE. Get gardening answers from our Master Gardener experts and learn about water conservation, xeriscape, irrigation, and more through our Smartscape courses.
Free Online Gardening Talks, Various dates: Register
Smartscape Residential and Rebate Courses: Register
Smartscape Rainwater Harvesting Professional Classes: Register
Tucson Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Class, March 12: Register
Operating, Maintaining, and Enhancing Your Rainwater Harvesting, Feb 5: Register
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Family and Consumer Health Sciences
PCCE health education helps people improve their nutrition, family dynamics, and lives. Parents and caregivers gain tools to enrich children’s lives through the Family Engagement Program. Find nutritional and life-skills education through the SNAP-Ed/Garden Kitchen and EFNEP programs.
FEP Positive Discipline Classes (Virtual & In-person): Register
The Garden Kitchen SNAP-Ed Volunteer and Partner opportunities: Learn More
EFNEP Making Mealtime a Lifestyle Series: Daily 9:30 am-11:00 am English | Spanish
Pima Diabetes Prevention Program, New classes each month: Register
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4-H
Youth build lifelong skills and have great fun through Cooperative Extension 4-H. Become involved in one of our many clubs or projects, capped by participation at the County Fair. Enjoy seed-to-table programming at Tucson Village Farm, a working urban farm built by and for the youth of our community.
Volunteer Saturdays at the Farm, Feb 2, March 2, April 23, May 21 - Sign Up
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Pima County Cooperative Extension
Main Office: 4210 N Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719-1109
Green Valley Location: 530 E Whitehouse Canyon Rd
South Tucson Garden Kitchen: 2205 S 4th Avenue
Our Main Office on Campbell is open M-F 8:30 - 4:30
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