402-444-7804
November 2021
Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties News
Vegetable Garden Cleanup

Cleaning up the vegetable garden at the end of the season is important. Bug overwintering sites, diseased plant material and leftover fruits/veggies should all be removed in order to reduce pests in 2022.

It starts with the dismantling of garden structures such as trellises, tomato cages and hoops for floating row covers. These can be taken out of the soil, cleaned and stacked. 

Next, removal of the frost/freeze killed plants. Inspect them for signs of serious insect feeding or disease infestation; if any are found, toss them into the trash, otherwise into the compost pile. Pest-free vegetable plant material is a welcome addition to a compost pile, as it mixes well with tree leaves and grass clippings.
Better Baking

Looking forward to doing some fall baking? The baking isle at the local supermarket has grown to include a wide variety of flours made from many types of grain, nuts, seeds, legumes, and vegetables. Find tips and resources for branching out and using different types of flour here.
2022 Master Gardener Informational Meetings

Master Gardener Information Meetings will be held:

Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Omaha Office. This meeting is in person and no registration is needed.

Friday, November 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Register for the Zoom:

The Nebraska Master Gardener program is a horticulture volunteer training program throughout the state. It has been part of UNL Extension since 1976. Master Gardener volunteers are trained by UNL Extension faculty and staff. They contribute time as volunteers working through their local Extension office providing sustainable horticulture information to their community.

For more information, please contact Scott Evans scott.evans@unl.edu

Upcoming 4-H Events


Clover Kid Fall Program:
When: November 9 from 6-7 pm
Where: Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
8015 W. Center Road, Omaha
What: Parents and children ages 5-7 are invited to be a part of the Douglas-Sarpy 4-H Clover Kid Program.
Cost: Free
To register, email Rwright4@unl.edu.  

4-H Space Workshop
When: November 15 from 6-8 pm
Where: Nebraska Extension in Douglas-Sarpy Counties
8015 W. Center Road, Omaha
What: Youth will be engineering their own telescope and learning about constellations in our inflatable planetarium.
Cost: $10
Register at: https://cvent.me/zPnmmw 

Follow 4-H on Facebook here.
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Online Professional Development for Child Care Providers

For a list of program dates and times, click below.
Turkey Tips

What size turkey should you buy?
Allow 1 pound per person as a guide to the size of turkey needed. If planning to use a frozen turkey, make sure there is enough room in the freezer to store it until ready to defrost.

How to defrost the turkey: The best way to defrost a turkey is in the refrigerator in a pan to contain the juices. A 16-pound turkey will need about four days to defrost. A thawed turkey can be stored in the refrigerator one to two days before it should be cooked. Note that turkey can be cooked from the frozen state but will require about 50% more time to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The giblet package should be carefully removed with tongs once the turkey is sufficiently defrosted.

See more turkey tips here.
Call for 2022 4-H Council Members!!
We are beginning the search for 2022 Douglas-Sarpy Counties 4-H Council members! 
 
What is the Douglas-Sarpy County 4-H Council?
The purpose of the Council is to fulfill the mission of the 4-H Program in cooperation with the Extension staff and the Extension board. The Council works to advocate and support the Douglas-Sarpy programs.
  
How often will 4-H Council meet and where?
At least six meetings will be held each year. The dates of these meetings are set at the first meeting held in January. Meetings are typically held at the Douglas County Extension office.
 
If you have questions or are interested in joining the Council, please contact us at ds4hcouncil@gmail.com
8015 West Center Road
Omaha, NE 68124-3175
402-444-7804
go.unl.edu/douglassarpyext 
Email us at douglas-sarpy@unl.edu

Our south office is located at 1102 E. 1st St., Papillion, NE 68046.
Call 402-444-7804 to schedule an appointment at our Papillion Office.