December 2023 eNews

Horticulture

Updated Tool to Help With Plant Selection

On November 15^th, 2023 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which was last updated in 2012, is an important tool by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive when planted in a certain location. Here’s what you need to know. Read more about USDA Here.

Join the K-State Garden Hour for a new webinar presentation this month, on Wednesday, December 6^th, 2023 to learn more about “Beekeeping Basics - How To Start Your Own Colony”. From supporting local pollination to harvesting your own honey, there are numerous reasons to consider becoming a bee keeper. Learn about the many benefits of bee keeping, as well as what it takes to establish a new colony for yourself. Presentations are live from Noon to 1pm, and also recorded and posted online. Register for upcoming webinars or find past recordings online Here.

Aging and Medicare

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports the results of a new study published in Lancet that older adults at greater risk of dementia may be able to decrease their risk of cognitive decline by nearly half by using hearing aids. Listen to the 17:14min Public Health On Call podcast about the results of the study and its relevance to health care for older adults.

Community Vitality

Register Here

Questions?  Contact Nancy Daniels at nkdaniels@ksu.edu

Grant Writing Workshops

This Grant Writing Basics course consists of two (3-hour) online live sessions with many additional resources. Time for interaction with other participants is an important aspect of the class; even experienced grant writers pick up tips and are reenergized after consulting with peers. The course is suited for people who have never written a grant (50% of our audience), as well as those who have a lot of experience and want to take a fresh look at their current practices. This online course is adapted from a highly rated face-to-face training with proven results. More than 2,100 Kansans were trained over five years and found confidence resulting in at least $38 million of successful grants for playgrounds, park improvements, walking trails, building restoration, leadership programs, arts, programming, festivals and other community infrastructure.

Participants are encouraged to bring their grants or grant ideas to share. The format of the class allows a writer to formulate their grant ideas into a grant proposal, if they are ready.

Classes are recorded for later reference or classes missed.

You will learn:

• Sources of data for community needs
• Where to find grants
• Elements of a great grant proposal
• Practicing the grant elements: Problem, Outcome, Activity, Evaluation, Budget

Upcoming workshops:

December 5-7, 2023, Evening Class, Kansas Community Empowerment (formerly Kansas PRIDE)

February 6-8, 2024, Day Class 1:30 - 4:30 PM

For more information, please contact Nancy Daniels at nkdaniels@ksu.edu

SNAP-Ed/EFNEP

Did you know that research shows cooking and eating meals at home has a positive impact on our overall health? Children and teens who share home-cooked meals with their families three or more times a week are more likely to eat healthy food, perform better academically, and have better relationships with their parents. Adults are more likely to have a healthier diet and are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

However, lack of equipment and cooking utensils create barriers to an individual’s ability to prepare nutritious meals at home. That’s where Kitchen Restore aims to help.

Kitchen Restore, a community donation initiative, is on a mission to provide kitchen starter kits that include gently used or new household kitchen tools and equipment to low-resource individuals and families. While we have been fortunate to serve over 250 households in Sedgwick County since 2021. We know there are more in need, and we need your support to continue to provide these kitchen starter kits.

We accept donations of basic kitchen items including spatulas, mixing bowls, matching plates and bowls, matching utensil sets, food storage containers, pots and pans, mixing spoons, kitchen towels, dish cloths, and more! You can find a full list of needed items on our Amazon wish list or on our website. If you’d prefer, you can always make a monetary donation.

Physical items may be dropped off at the Sedgwick County Extension Office between 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

With your donation, we can help more individuals and families have the tools and skills to cook more meals at home. Thank you for your support!

Family Life

Can Hardly Wait for School to Start Again

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. Soon, your children will be at home for Winter break. They are looking forward to the endless days of sleeping, hanging out with friends, and relaxing around the clock. On the other hand, you may wonder how you keep them busy. How can we stay happy during all these holidays and on a budget? The good news is that all of this can be achieved while still having a great time as a family and creating lasting memories.

Read More English

Read More Spanish

Health and Nutrition

Walk With Ease

Did you know that physical activity is a natural pain reliever? Walking is one of the safest forms of physical activity to assist in pain management for those who have arthritis or other chronic health conditions. Regular walking reduces stiffness caused by many forms of arthritis while having a relatively low impact on joints. Walking is simple, inexpensive, and safe for all ages and abilities. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you can have success with our Walk with Ease program.

Walk With Ease is a 6-week program designed to help you reduce pain and discomfort, and improve balance, strength, and stamina. Participants will learn how to walk safely and comfortably, as well as improve their overall health. Classes meet once a week and each session provides educational information followed by a short walk. All participants will receive a Walk with Ease guidebook. Our next series of classes is at the Hubbard Arts Center, 309 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Derby, KS 67037 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm on the following dates:

·        January 25^th

·        February 1^st

·        February 8^th

·        February 15^th

·        February 22^nd

·        February 29^th

The program is free, but you must register to attend (registration opens on December 18^th). Please call 316.788.3781 or Register Here

4-H and Youth Development

4-H Department Book Giveaway

To celebrate this holiday season, the 4-H department will be giving away gently used children's books appropriate for elementary through middle school ages! Come on into the office and stop by our tree to pick out your very own book. These books were donated from a teacher's library to make sure everyone has something new to read over Christmas break. We would love to wish you a Merry Christmas and help you pick out a good book!

K-State News

K-State Launches Institute to

Advance Sustainability and

Water Research Excellence

Kansas State University is taking the next steps toward a more sustainable future by launching and leading the collaborative, multi-institutional Kansas Water Institute.

The new Kansas Water Institute will bring interdisciplinary university resources and expertise together to develop innovative solutions to today's water challenges, leveraging the more than 75 faculty across the university who are working on water-related issues.

The institute will draw upon expertise from every K-State college, campus, and K-State Research and Extension station to drive transformational discovery, including conducting research on novel irrigation and water management approaches, reservoir sediment reduction strategies, urban stormwater mitigation, risk factors for water-contaminant driven disease, social perceptions and behaviors around water use, and climate modeling.

 Learn more about the Kansas Water Institute. 

Get Involved!

K-State Research and Extension — Sedgwick County exists to serve the people of south central Kansas. Our mission thrives because of community support. We offer many opportunities for volunteers to offer their time and skills, from gardening to youth development to programming support.

Learn more about ways to support our programming and the needs of the community. 

Looking for an

event space?

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.