October 2023 eNews

Sedgwick County Program Development Committee elections will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. View more voting information Here

Horticulture

Storing Summer Bulbs This Winter

As winter approaches, we need to start thinking about digging up & storing the bulbs that will not survive Kansas winters. Bulbs such as canna, caladium, dahlia, gladiolus, tuberous begonia, and calla lily will need to be dug and stored in a protected climate so they can be planted next year.

All of these plants should be dug after frost has browned down the foliage. After the cold kills back the above ground foliage, dig up the bulbs with a shovel or garden fork. Allow the bulbs to dry out for about a week in a shady, well-ventilated site, such as a garage or tool shed. During this time, avoid exposing the bulbs to freezing temperatures.

After the bulbs have dried, remove any excess soil. Pack the bulbs in a box filled with peat moss, vermiculite, or perlite. Make sure the bulbs don’t touch in the box. In case one bulb decays, this prevents the rot from spreading to other bulbs. Dusting the bulbs with fungicide before storage may also be beneficial in preventing rot.

Store the bulbs in a cool, dry location for the winter, such as in a basement. Store them near the wall farthest from the furnace and insulate them so the wall keeps them cool. Most all of these bulbs should be stored as close to 40 degrees F as possible. Caladium are the only exception, and should be stored between 50 and 60 degrees F. 

Join the K-State Garden Hour for a new webinar presentation this month, on Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 to learn more about “Putting Your Garden to Bed: Winter Garden Prep”. With the growing season nearly over for 2023, discover what garden tasks you should prioritize yet this year, in order to help your garden this winter, and to prepare for a successful growing season next year. 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

More on Medicare Scams

A few months ago we wrote about some Medicare scams going around. Sadly, they are not letting up, so we are sharing more information on these.  

KANSAS SCAM ALERT: It’s been reported that scammers are cold-calling Medicare beneficiaries claiming to be from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. KDADS will never cold-call Medicare beneficiaries about their Medicare cards or services. If you receive one of these calls, and you have not requested assistance from our Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) program, hang up and call the SHICK Hotline at 1-800-860-5260 to report these scams. Our office is tracking how many beneficiaries receive these calls, and we will report them to KDADS.

In another scam, some people with Medicare are getting lots of unordered COVID tests in the mail, and Medicare is getting the bill. Or you may not get tests but find charges for tests on your Medicare statement. Fraud, along with mistakes and abuse, cost Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year. If you have Medicare, here are some things to consider.

• Read your Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) and Explanations of Benefits (EOB), either on paper or at Medicare.gov. When you read each statement, look for services, products, or equipment Medicare paid for but you did not get. Do the statements show any double charges or things you or your doctor didn’t ask for?
• If you suspect Medicare fraud, call your health care provider or Medicare plan and ask for an explanation. If you are not satisfied with their response, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. If you received COVID tests you did not order, tell the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General online or at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).

Remember, always protect your Medicare Number and treat your Medicare card like it’s a credit card. Don’t ever give it out except to your doctor or other Medicare provider. 

Community Vitality

First Friday e-Call--

Trails: How Can Business Owners

Help Create Trail Towns?

The First Friday e-call for October is scheduled for Friday, October 6, 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Jeff Caroll, Owner, Ottawa Bike and Trail, will tell what he has learned about what bikers need in order to come to your trail. 

The purpose of the First Friday e-Call is to increase the local community's knowledge of the experts, education, and economic resources available to help small businesses and entrepreneurs and to share innovations in community development. 

Questions?  Contact Nancy Daniels at nkdaniels@ksu.edu

SNAP-Ed/EFNEP

Sedgwick County SNAP-Ed is a

Proud Partner of Walktober in Wichita

Walktober is a free, community-wide physical activity initiative, encouraging you to engage in the recommended 30 minutes of activity five or more days of the week.

Join #WalktoberICT for walking challenges and resources the entire month of October and be entered to win fabulous prizes! Visit our website to learn more about how to participate and see all #WalktoberICT activities.

You may be asking: “Why do we need a designated month to put one foot in front of the other?” On average, experts say we take a fraction of the recommended number of steps per day. Walking is an easy exercise that has powerful benefits, such as weight management and blood pressure control. Walking also decreases your risk of a heart attack, lowers your risk of a stroke, and protects against hip fractures.

Get out and enjoy each day of October’s pleasant temperatures with a friend, child, spouse, co-worker, neighbor, or pet. You might get hooked! Forming a walking habit is easier with the partnership and accountability of friendship, family, neighbors, co-workers, or pets. Bonus: walking-and-talking is good for our mental health, not just our body’s physical health.

Agriculture

Resources for Fall

Fall Soil Sampling

Soil testing provides important information concerning the fertility status of the soil. This information can help produce better crops and reduce costs by guiding management decisions such as the type and amount of fertilizers to apply.

Sample Collection & Submission to K-State Soil Testing Lab

The Challenge of Collection a Representative Soil Sample

Pasture and Hayfield Management

If your pasture or hayfield is struggling, one of the first things to check is soil fertility. Fall is the preferred period for soil testing because it allows more time for any needed lime applications to have an effect before the main growing season begins.

Fall Soil Testing of Hayfields and Pastures

First Frost & Freeze Dates

Fall is here and the first frost and freeze are incoming. Check out this Agronomy eUpdate article for information on the probabilities of when it might occur based on previous years.

The First Frost & Freeze Dates for Kansas

Family Life

Sleeping Leads to Laurels

Has anyone ever told you as a child, "Don't rest on your laurels"? "To rest on our laurels" means to relax and rely on our past achievements or successes to justify not achieving new things or successes. It comes from ancient Greek and Roman societies where people of high rank and achievement were given crowns made of bay leaves to mark their achievements. But in this segment, we're going to talk about the importance of sleep, and we're going to encourage our children to sleep so they can achieve many laurels this school year.

Read More English

Read More Spanish

Health and Nutrition

Drying and Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

This article was published in the October 2023 “You Asked It!” K-State Research and Extension E-Newsletter. Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation

It’s pumpkin season! When carving your pumpkins, don’t toss the seeds. They make a great snack by drying and roasting.

To dry, carefully wash pumpkin seeds to remove the clinging fibrous pumpkin tissue. Pumpkin seeds can be dried in the sun, in an electric dehydrator at 115-120°F for 1 to 2 hours, or in an oven on a very low, warm temperature only, for 3 to 4 hours. Stir them frequently to avoid scorching. Dried seeds should not be stored with any moisture left in them.

To roast the seeds, take dried pumpkin seeds, toss with oil and/or salt, and roast in a preheated oven at 250°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

Pumpkin seeds are packed full of nutrients such as antioxidants, iron, zinc, and magnesium, which can provide a variety of health benefits. Besides having them for a snack, you can add them to Greek yogurt, fruit bowls, and sprinkle them into salads, cereals, and soups. Consider saving those seeds at pumpkin carving time. Your body will thank you!

*Please note – the nutrition content added at the end of the article was written by Sara Sawer, MPH, RD, LD (Information retrieved on 09/27/23) Here

4-H and Youth Development

The New 4-H Year Begins!

October 1^st marks the beginning of the new 4-H year and begins an exciting time for our 4-H members. We are looking back and celebrating big accomplishments over the past year at our upcoming achievement banquet, but we are also gearing up for another great year. The beginning of a new year means endless possibilities for new projects and an open door to creativity. New events, camps, and activities are being planned and prepared for across the county. The best part about the new year is welcoming in new 4-H families. Ages 7-18, all are welcome to take part in 4-H. This is a great time of year to learn more and consider joining a 4-H club near you. We have 15 different clubs all across Sedgwick County who would love to welcome you into their family. Reach out to the Extension Office to get connected to a club near you!

K-State News

K-State Reimagines Educational Access, Opportunity in Bold New Strategic Plan

Kansas State University is leaning into its land-grant heritage and mission with the recent launch of its Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.

Built from input from more than 10,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and other university stakeholders — including the 2,457 Kansans who participated in last academic year's regional community visits across the state — the plan outlines how the university will transform to serve new kinds of learners, solve grand global challenges, and contribute to the economic prosperity of the state.

"Being a next-generation land-grant university requires us to renew our commitment to the land-grant mission, which is all about access and opportunity," said Richard Linton, K-State president. "But access and opportunity today means something different than it did in 1863 — we must evolve to meet the needs of today's learners who are seeking different kinds of training and education, and we must embrace our responsibility to serve the state, nation and world through research and engagement in new and exciting ways."

Learn more about the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.

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.