Solutions in Your Community

Anne Arundel County UME Newsletter

January 2023

This must be one of the least snowy winters ever! I keep seeing notices about other weather events people wish to celebrate, but not snow! Hmmm….

We in AAC Extension are busy planning spring and summer events and hope we will see you at some of them.

A highlight this year will be urban farming. A Chili Cookout Festival, made with veggies from the garden that Dave Myers and Master Gardeners have planned for the “garden on the farm” yield. Many of you attended our Fall Harvest Festival this past year and got to learn about growing pumpkins and Indian corn along with seeing the beauty of the MG crops and receiving information on fall foods and activities. We will hold another Open House this fall to share our bounty. We are also getting ready for camps and fairs as spring slides up on us. We hope to see you in the coming months as we continue to work “to Make the Best Better!”

To learn more about urban farming, visit the the Urban Farming Research Clinic page on the AAC Extension website.

Happy Almost Spring!

Karol W. Dyson

Area Extension Director

Mark Your Calendar!

Crop Sustainability & IPM Workshop

March 7, 2023

6:00-9:00 PM

Anne Arundel County Extension Office

Click here to register.

Office closures:

February 20: Washington's Birthday

Welcome Fran Garcia!

Fran Garcia became a member of the Extension family when she became our Interim Master Gardener Coordinator. A Master Gardener herself, Fran has a passion for gardening and landscaping. After retiring as an executive officer in the Federal government for 36 years, Fran was finally able to focus on her own yard and began volunteering at Londontowne Gardens to connect with like-minded friends. She will be working at the Anne Arundel County UME office most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. You can reach her at fgarcia6@umd.edu.

Getting to Know You: Family Meals

LaTasha Coleman, Principal Agent Associate

Project Leader/Nutrition Educator

Suddenly a new year is upon us! There is no better time to start something new that can benefit the whole family. Eating together is a great time to role model healthy behavior and reinforce family values. Good conversation and laughter encourages confidence, and can even help with their grades! Here are some easy ways to get started:

Plan Ahead (but be flexible).

Choose a day when everyone’s free, and add it to the calendar. It’s easier to stick to something once it’s scheduled. Once you have found a day, brainstorm some ideas for a meal or snack together. For a little fun, switch up the chef in charge or pick a theme for your night.

Keep it Simple.

Pick simple recipes and encourage your family to assist with the. Try out Crock Pot Chicken and Rice, Make It Myself Pizza, or some Apple Pancakes. Check out www.go.umd.edu/eatsmart-recipes for even more great recipes to try out.

Any Time is a Good Time.

Dinner, breakfast, lunch, snack... any time is a good time to eat together. Start with one meal together, and schedule more as you are able.

Put the Screens Away.

We love our screens. Sometimes too much. Set your screens out of reach or turn them off for family meal time to encourage everyone to be present.

Talk it Out.

The screens are away, so now everyone can focus on each other. Don’t know where to start? Try out some of these fun conversation starters to keep things light. Celebrate the successes each of you has had that day, week, or month. Tell your silliest jokes!

For more tips to help your family eat well and stay active visit our Eat Smart Blog.

The Anne Arundel County UME Office is hiring a part-time SNAP-Ed Program Assistant. This position will be located at our UME office in Gambrills, MD.

To learn more about this position and to apply, visit: https://go.umd.edu/arundel-position

2023 Gardening Tips and Tasks

The University of Maryland Home and Garden Information has created the 2023 Monthly Tips & Tasks Calendar: A Guide for Maryland Communities which is filled with reminders and ideas to help you have a successful and productive year in your garden. You can view our monthly tips online, or download and print the 2023 calendar and use it to make notes on planting dates and other reminders throughout the year. Visit the link below to learn more.

Monthly Tips & Tasks Calendar: A Guide for Maryland Communities

Healthy Eating - Sizzlin' Snap Pea Fried Rice

3 Tablespoons vegetable oil

4 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups sugar snap peas, washed and chopped

1 bell pepper, washed and chopped

1 carrot, washed and chopped

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped or 1 teaspoon garlic powder

3 cups cooked rice (white or brown)

4 Tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

Pepper to taste

4 green onions, washed and chopped

*Use a variety of leftover, canned, frozen, or fresh vegetables - use what you have on hand. To make this a meal, add tofu or leftover chicken, turkey, beef, or shrimp.

In a large pan over high heat; add 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil to coat the pan. Pour beaten eggs into the pan and scramble with a fork or spatula. When the eggs are cooked, remove eggs from the pan and set aside. Add 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil and vegetables to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes. Next add cooked rice. Break up any large clumps. Cook for 5 minutes. Add soy sauce and pepper to taste. Add in cooked eggs. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Turn off the heat, stir in green onions.

Source: extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/snap-ed/eat-smart

Join Anne Arundel County 4-H

Did you visit the Anne Arundel County Fair this year? Did you wonder what in the world 4-H is all about? Do you have children between 8 and 18 or know someone who does? If so, it's easy to learn more! Visit our website or email the the Anne Arundel County 4-H office at gsumbrum@umd.edu."4-H makes the best better!"

Become an Anne Arundel County Master Gardener

Interested in becoming a Master Gardener? Master Gardeners are a group of gardening enthusiasts who are passionate about gardening, education, and volunteering in their community. The curriculum is presented by University of Maryland Extension faculty and trained Master Gardeners.

Click here for more information.