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March 2025
Your Land Grant University's Local Outreach
Research-based Information You Can Trust
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The Sunset Community Garden has been educating and nourishing Johnson County for over a decade from its vibrant quarter-acre fruit and vegetable plot in Olathe, Ks. (11875 S Sunset Dr).
Managed by Johnson County K-State Research and Extension in partnership with the Department of Health and Environment, the garden relies on dedicated volunteers to plant, weed, prune, harvest, and more throughout the growing season. In 2024, volunteers helped harvest over 4,400 pounds of fresh produce, distributed through local food pantries and the “Nutrition Nook” at the Health Office. This equated to 13,200 servings of food, or 3,300 meals!
Volunteering at the garden is a great way to learn about gardening, form community with new people, stay active, and make a positive impact. Workdays are held on Tuesday mornings with seasonal start times: 8 AM from mid-March to Memorial Day, 7:30 AM from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and 8 AM from Labor Day through the end of the season. Tools are provided, and no gardening experience is required—you’ll learn alongside other volunteers and Extension Small Farms Agent Anthony Reardon. Just be sure to wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and gardening gloves if you have them.
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Interested in making your yard more earth-friendly?
Come join us at the 13th annual Kansas Healthy Yards Expo taking place March 29th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Shawnee Civic Centre, located at 13817 Johnson Drive in Shawnee. This event is free to attend. The Expo will offer educational seminars presented by local businesses, non-profits, and city and county departments about practices you can use in your own landscape. Family friendly too! Activities for the kiddos. For a list of events, speakers, or vendors please visit Healthy Yards Expo.
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Annuals in the Landscape
I don’t know about you, but I need some color in my life. This winter, we have had weeks at a time where I couldn’t even see the green weeds emerging from the bare soil because they were covered with snow. Even though temperatures might not be ideal for shorts and tee-shirts, we can still plant colorful annuals this early in the growing season to boost our spirits. Pansies and snapdragons are examples of annual plants that flower in cooler temperatures. Need more convincing? How about inspiration on how to use these plants properly?
Check out our comprehensive guide to using Annuals in the Landscape.
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Protect our Pollinators, Delay Spring Cleanup
As we 'March' 😉 into spring, I know many gardeners are itching to get to that spring clean-up. Chopping down those dried stems, cleaning up any leftover leaves, and covering those bare soil spots up with mulch. And as much as I want to start those things, I know there are still hibernating beneficial insects that need to wait a little longer before emerging. How long? The following article explains why delaying your spring garden cleaning can help preserve our beneficial insect populations.
Read the full article here.
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Spring is the Time to Divide Perennials
A very lucrative opportunity arises as the ground gets a bit more workable. I, of course, am speaking about dividing your perennials. I have mentioned before that fall is the best time to divide perennials, which is still true. However, the second-best time to divide your perennials is early spring. Especially the fast-growing perennials. Dividing in spring only allows for a short time to establish before the peak of the growing season, but it can be done with high success rates.
Read the full article for tips.
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If You Have Garden Questions, We Have Answers
Call 913-715-7050 or email questions to garden.help@jocogov.org
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Spinach is a versatile and nutritious green that thrives in cooler weather! Join agents Anthony Reardon and Chelsea Reinberg in this virtual webinar as they discuss the essentials of growing spinach, from seed to harvest, while also sharing creative ways to incorporate this nutrient-packed green into your meals. Register or watch previous sessions. | |  |
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Join Horticulture - Small Farms Extension Agent Anthony Reardon for this informative FREE virtual webinar class, where you’ll discover creative ways to source low-cost or free gardening supplies and repurpose household items for garden use. Learn how to make your own compost, soil amendments, and pest deterrents while planning high-yield, low-maintenance crops to save time and money. We’ll also explore cost-effective plant varieties that thrive with minimal inputs, helping you grow more while spending less. Register for Effective Vegetable Gardening on a Limited Budget.
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March 5th-Establishing a Native Prairie Stand at Home
Join the K-State Horticulture agents for a special K-State Garden Hour virtual webinar crossover event with JoCo Natural Resources agent Amy Keigher! Learn about the benefits of prairie landscapes, plant selection, and maintenance techniques to create a beautiful, sustainable ecosystem right at home.
Register here.
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March Equals Potato Planting
Historically, potatoes are planted around St. Patrick's Day. Read this article by Dennis Patton to help you achieve success.
Growing Potatoes
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March Continues Income Tax Preparations
January 27 marked the official start of tax season. The process of gathering all your tax records can be overwhelming and stressful every year, resulting in incorrect income taxes or late filings.
You can decrease your stress and ensure the accuracy of your tax return by working from a tax checklist. Customized checklists eliminate the need to work from memory and prevent you from reinventing the wheel every year. Organize your checklist into buckets or sections to make it easier to identify all the pieces that need. Read this article for Tax Organization Tips.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
This highly sought after service starts on Feb 5th for taxpayers who make less than $67,000 per household annually. If you have used this service before, it is important to realize there have been recent changes made to the process. We do not make appointments. Please consult our website for updated details. Learn More
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Nutrition and Food Safety | |
March is National Peanut Month!
Peanuts are a legume, not a nut, but a staple in many households due to their nutritional value. They contain protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and can support heart health by lowering bad cholesterol levels.
Learn how to celebrate and appreciate peanuts here.
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March is National Nutrition Month. Celebrate this year's theme of "Food Connects Us" with Registered Dietitian and Health, Food Safety and Nutrition Agent Chelsea Reinberg. Learn more about how food connects us to our cultures, our families and friends, and community members. Register here. | |
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Kids in the Kitchen series returns with Get Ready to Bake. The class is designed for ages 7-12. Kids will learn how to bake delicious yeast breads, quick breads and other tasty pastries! They will learn the science of the ingredients, get hands-on experience and receive a booklet of tasty recipes to make at home.
Register here.
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Championing Youth Through 4-H Judging
Ever wondered how 4-H members become confident decision-makers and effective communicators? Through 4-H judging contests, youth have the chance to develop vital life skills by making hands-on decisions and evaluations in a fun, competitive environment. Whether competing individually or as part of a team, 4-H members learn to make thoughtful choices, communicate their ideas with confidence, and collaborate with others - skills that will serve them well in school, their careers, and beyond.
Learn more
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We are dedicated to a safe, sustainable, competitive food and fiber system and to strong healthy communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education.
Local Mission
K-State Extension, Johnson County is an organization of dedicated, passionate, hardworking staff who collaborate and connect people with university supported education, resources, and services – through volunteers, community, and partner organizations.
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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