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Wednesday, Jul. 01, 2009

UGA Extension offers all kinds of services

Due to my health concerns, my doctor has begun to restrict my diet. I have high cholesterol, so I have to cut down on fats, eggs and certain types of meats. I also have kidney stones, which means I need to reduce my intake of beets, some citrus, several types of berries and nuts, black tea and other foods and drinks. After I put the two lists together, it feels like all I can eat is lettuce. Looks like I’ll be losing weight!

Actually, it’s not that bad. It just seems like I keep running into foods I should avoid or reduce. I know the more I follow the doctor’s advice, the better my health will be. The same is true of plants, as well. There are some basic plant health guidelines that we need to follow to get the best results.

University of Georgia Extension ‘extends’ the university’s educational resources to offer lifelong learning to the people of Georgia through unbiased, research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families. Our job is to use the research-based information from UGA to help Georgia residents improve their lives. We have several ways we get information into the hands of those who need it.

Have you ever wondered how to find your local Extension Office? If you have Web access, locate your local UGA Extension Office here: http://www.caes.uga.edu/ extension/statewide.cfm. You can also call your local UGA Extension Office by dialing (800) ASK-UGA1 from any non-mobile phone.

We have two e-mail newsletters we offer locally. The Garden Bench is a bimonthly garden newsletter written to update homeowners on the latest garden activities. Look for it in your local garden center or receive it by e-mail by sending a message to tberry1@windstream.net. You can see past issues online at www.ugaextension.com/houston/anr/index.html.

The Landscape Alert is an e-mail newsletter released as needed. It is produced for the commercial landscape, turf and nursery industry in Georgia. It educates the industry about current issues, pests and training opportunities. Subscribe by e-mailing sthornuga.edu or see past issues archived online at www.gaurbanag.org

Houston County Master Gardeners conduct a monthly television spot with WMAZ Channel 13. This 3- to 4-minute spot airs during the Morning Show with Suzanne Lawler on the second Saturday of the month. The time varies, but should fall between 7 and 8 am.

The Junior Master Gardener program is a hands-on learning experience for third- through fifth-grade gardeners in area schools. For information, contact Horticulture Program assistant Mrs. Teddie Berry at (478) 987-2028. Master Gardeners can sometimes serve as speakers for adult and youth gardening programs.

We have several Web sites that may be of interest to you. See our local county office Web site at www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston. Look under Agriculture to see fact sheets covering Middle Georgia gardening and landscape issues.

Find home gardening information and commercial landscape information, including more than 250 fact sheets and a database of landscape and garden questions and answers here: www.gaurbanag.org Visit www.ugaextension.org and click on Publications to search through many gardening, landscaping and other publications.

UGA Extension produces an annual Pest Management Handbook. The handbook has pesticide recommendations for most major pests and plants. It also includes pesticide handling and safety information. The Handbook can be accessed online at http://www.ent.uga.edu/pmh/ or you can also purchase printed copies from this Web site.

Extension offices also offer plant insect, weed and disease identification to help residents solve their problems. We also offer water testing for home water supply or nursery and greenhouse use. We assist with wildlife control questions and other urban environmental issues.

Dealing with landscape and gardening issues can be difficult. UGA Extension offers information that can help. Use these sources of information to avoid problems, improve your living space and save money.

Willie Chance is the UGA Extension Agent in Houston County. To subscribe to our home gardening newsletter, send e-mail to mg@uga.edu or see our Web site at www.gaurbanag.org.